ISU Four Continents Championship 2023 - Colorado Springs, USA - Feb. 7-12

[Elizabeth]

The Rhythm Dance results:


You will notice several deductions for falls - in addition to those, there were "twizzle issues" for several of the couples causing only "base value" or even zero to be given, rather than a level.





The Rhythm Dance small medalists

[Elizabeth]

The final event today is the Women Free Skate - 4 groups of Women with a CDN in Group 2 and 2 CDN in Group 3.

Leading off Group 3, Sara-Maude Dupuis of Canada improved upon her previous personal best score by some 15 points! She certainly appeared to be less impacted by the altitude than many of the previous skaters. She ended up with the 7th best TES score!! I first met Sara-Maude and her mother in Laval in 2018 - we were staying at the same hotel and attending Skate-Canada International. We ended up eating breakfast together a couple of times. The following summer she was scheduled to compete at the Minto Summer Skate in Novice - she was there but was injured and didn't skate. I remember talking to her mother there. She has come a long way


The FS results:


The overall results:



The medalists

[Elizabeth]

Skate Canada's press release after Friday: https://skatecanada.ca/2023/02/canadian ... ontinents/

[happyheini]

I never knew that, at all ISU competitions or just 4 continents? Still find it odd.

[Elizabeth]

I never knew that, at all ISU competitions or just 4 continents? Still find it odd.

The awarding of small medals for each part of the event (short/rhythm & free) is standard procedure for any ISU championships - this comes from an ISU reply to a question on Facebook.

Small Medals are awarded at ISU Championships to the top three skaters for their performances on the Short Program and on the Free Skating. Small Medals for the Short Program are awarded usually before the draw for the Free Skating. Free Skating Small Medals are awarded usually in a public place around the venue for fans attending the event.

The question was asked about a photograph of the medalists wearing their short program small medals at Worlds in Boston in 2016 -

• Anna POGORILAYA (RUS)
• Gracie GOLD (USA)
• Evgenia MEDVEDEVA (RUS)

With the start orders for the free programs now being by "reverse order of placement", there is no actual draw for start position; the medals are awarded before the press conference following the event. The press conference videos from Europeans including the awarding of the medals at the beginning of each one.

At Europeans earlier this year at the awarding of the small medals during the press conferences it was announced that these were "temporary" medals and that the permanent ones would be forthcoming shortly. That was, according to reports, due to the fact that the company making ISU medals had gone bankrupt. It appears that they now have a supplier as those being awarded in Colorado Springs have all the appears of being "the real thing".

[happyheini]

Thank you, Elizabeth, I guess you never stop learning..

[Elizabeth]

Now back to the 2023 4CC
Coming up next is the Pairs FS - start order/results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/seaso ... SEG006.htm
The ISU YouTube stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SPM5oWuyfM
The CBC Sports player re-stream: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2170039363656

The FS results:


The overall results:


The medal podium


At the press conference:


Excellent result for the very new team of Pereira & Michaud! SB 121.17 for a total score of 186.33

For context - with Evelyn Walsh, Trennt's Personal best was 116.83 for the FS and 179.70 for the total score!!

[Elizabeth]

Final event today - the Men FS
Start order/results: http://www.isuresults.com/results/seaso ... SEG002.htm
ISU YouTube stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y_l7GzvjsE
CBC Sports stream: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2170038851855

The FS results:


The overall results:


The podium (when Keegan was introduced he didn't just take bows, he did a backflip!!!)


A new Canadian record score


One of the 3 pictures in the Kiss 'n Cry tonight


In his interview before the medal ceremony, Kao Miura thanked Keegan for skating so well - he said it inspired him



Three happy men at the press conference


The gold medalist was very complimentary to the silver medalist during the press conference - for example:

“Today was amazing. Keegan put out a great program right in front of me. I was able to keep that momentum.
Keegan gave me great energy.”

“Keegan and I are 14 years apart. I watched him as a little boy. Isn’t this sport amazing that we now can be in it together?”

With respect to their ages: Kao Miura became the youngest Men winner ever of 4CC at 17y 248d and Keegan Messing the oldest medalist ever at 31y 19d!

[Elizabeth]

Skate Canada's press release on Saturday's events: https://skatecanada.ca/2023/02/canada-w ... pionships/

This afternoon the Free Dance took place and then the Exhibition Gala will follow - apparently some folks will be watching a season-ending event in another sport - something called football in the USA.....

The results after the FD


Nothing like a couple of Season's Best scores under the difficult altitude conditions for our medal winning CDN teams!




The podium


Two countries but all training mates at I.AM


At the press conference

[Elizabeth]

Skate Canada's final press release: https://skatecanada.ca/2023/02/ice-danc ... pionships/

[Elizabeth]

The ISU YouTube stream for the Gala: https://t.co/DRHI2GD2ol

Danielle Earl was in Colorado Springs taking her usual wonderful photos. Here are the champions from the Gala






Another shot of the medalists after the Gala from a different photographer

[Elizabeth]

All the I.AM skaters who competed are in this photo, along with the coaches who were there


The photo was taken after the medal ceremony following the free dance. Missing from the photo - the CHN team who withdrew from the competition before the RD.

I understand that the US ice dancers went to Colorado Springs after US nationals along with the rest of the US entries so they had a "leg up" on get ready for the altitude. Patrice Lauzon was there during that time but returned to Montreal before 4CC began.