ISU World Championships 2023 - Saitama, JPN - March 20-26

[Elizabeth]

Press release from Skate Canada after the 1st day of competition - may contain spoilers if you don't know the results yet: https://t.co/DVNLiuL0TV

[Elizabeth]

The CBC finally put up the full video of the Women SP in case anyone wants to watch it: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2185609795565

[Elizabeth]

I watched the Pairs FS and the medal ceremony but am not posting anything yet in case people don't want to be spoiled.

I "napped" through the first 3 groups of Men SP but watched the remainder. Now it's time to catch up on some sleep!!

The results are all to be found here: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2223/wc2023/
The upcoming start orders are also there.

The videos of completed events should be available on the CBC website in due course: https://www.cbc.ca/player/sports/figure%20skating
That's also the location for upcoming streams.

[Elizabeth]

Day two of the competition included the Pairs FS with the awarding of medals and the short program for the Men.

CBC Sports video of the Pairs FS: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2185684547701









ISU article on the results of the Pairs FS: https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/new ... teParam=15

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CBC Sports video of the Men SP: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2185722435567









Skate Canada press release after the 2nd day of Worlds competition: https://skatecanada.ca/2023/03/stellato ... pionships/




Some historical moments/events at Worlds:

• Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara made history as the first pairs team from Japan to win a World title.
• Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii made history as the first Italian pair to win a medal at the World Championships.
• Anastasia Gracheva made history as the first skater to ever represent Moldova at the World Championships.
• Isabella Gamez and Aleksandr Korovin made history as the first pairs team to represent The Philippines at the World Championships.
• Alexa Knierim & Brandon Frazier became the first American pair to win medals at two consecutive World Championships since Jenni Meno and Todd Sand (their coaches) did so in the 1990's.

The reaction from their coaches on Instagram to Alexa & Brandon's result:

[Elizabeth]

Day 3 of competition begins at 10 p.m. EDT tonight for some of us with the Rhythm Dance: http://www.isuresults.com/results/seaso ... ta0403.htm

CBC Sports relay of the ISU live stream will be found here: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2182421571703

The detailed time schedule in local time which is 13 hours ahead of EDT:



The RD will be followed at 4:20 a.m. EDT tomorrow morning by the Women Free Skate: http://www.isuresults.com/results/seaso ... ta0205.htm

CBC relay of the ISU live stream: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2182425667979

The detailed time schedule in local time:

[Elizabeth]

In case you are wondering who Belinda Noonan, one of the ISU commentators is, here is a link to her Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belinda_Noonan

[Elizabeth]

For some reason the CBC Sports stream for the Rhythm Dance is on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ritiJ1k3A

The usual links were not connecting and I tried the Radio-Canada link which worked but had French commentary.

Edited to add:
It seems that CBC has found the connection to their video player so the stream is up at the usual link on their website but remains working on YouTube.

[Elizabeth]

The Rhythm Dance is now complete and CBC Sports has added a link for the Women's Free Skate on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zQsm3nW_nI
This appears to be in addition to their video player.

[Elizabeth]

Both the RD and the Women's FS are complete and medals have been awarded in the latter. I won't be posting about the results for now as people might not want to be "spoiled".

More from me after I get some sleep

[Elizabeth]

The Rhythm Dance was completed and medals were awarded to the Women in Day 3 of Worlds. Here's Skate Canada's press release on Day 3 of the competition: https://skatecanada.ca/2023/03/canadian ... pionships/

The RD results:

The top 20 couples will compete tonight in the Free Dance.





The small medalists


The results of the Women's FS and overall results:










Having fun at the press conference


Kaori became the first Japanese skater to ever win back to back World championships.

ISU article on the results of the Women's FS: https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/new ... teParam=15

[Elizabeth]

In what I consider good news, CBC Sports has posted links for the remaining Worlds events on their YouTube channel. This availability appears to be in addition to the original links on the CBC Sports video player.

The Free Dance begins at 11:30 p.m. EDT tonight (Friday): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUf6KSOuQbQ

The start order: http://www.isuresults.com/results/seaso ... ta0405.htm

In the early morning hours of Saturday, the Men's FS will begins at 4:30 a.m. EDT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnEn0xxHhgA

The start order: http://www.isuresults.com/results/seaso ... ta0105.htm

Sunday's Gala will begin at 2 a.m. EDT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oBDmEOmJHs

[Elizabeth]

Detailed time schedule for the Free Dance (local time - 13 hours ahead of EDT):

[Elizabeth]

Medals have been awarded in the ice dance competition.

Up next, the final event - the Men's free skate. The detailed time scheduled (local time - 13 hours ahead of EDT):


This is a look at the arena for the final two groups of men!


The final group was one "for the ages". I won't spoil it for those who haven't yet watched but will post more later. For now, I need sleep!!

[Elizabeth]

You may have seen some of the Ice Dance event on CBC this afternoon.

Here are the free dance results and the overall results:












Switching things up (aka "change partners and dance"?) at the press conference


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ISU summary of the Free Dance: https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/new ... teParam=15

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Some "fun facts" proving that ice dance can bring success to more "mature" skaters:

• This is the 1st World ice dance podium with all skaters in their 30s
• Madison Chock/Evan Bates are the 1st dance team both in their 30s to win Worlds
• Evan Bates is the oldest ever Ice Dance World champion at age 34
• Charlene Guignard is the oldest Ice Dance medalist (at age 33) along with her partner Marco Fabbri (age 35)

Some history - Ice Dance medals in the so-called "new judging system" era

[Elizabeth]

The final event of the competition was the free skate for the Men. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the final group was quite amazing - each skater unique and many stories told. Jackie Wong (RockerSkating) provided these photos of those where "emotions were high":




The Free Skate results:


The overall results:










Unfortunately, a couple of unusual mistakes took Keegan Messing out of medal contention in his final Worlds competitive appearance but he had the support of the crowd, getting a standing ovation.


While in the Kiss 'n Cry he showed photos of both of his children on his phone



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ISU summary of the Men FS: https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/new ... teParam=15

Skate Canada press release on the final day of competition: https://skatecanada.ca/2023/03/canadian ... pionships/

USFS article on the final day: https://t.co/gLui9GVNg6

[Elizabeth]

The Exhibition Gala begins @ 2 a.m. EDT on March 26th. I'll be sleeping but will catch the video later

The program

[Elizabeth]

That final "jump for joy" traditional photo of the gold medalists at the end of the Gala


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The final medal count, by country:

3 *
1 1 1
2
11
1
1

* Japan is only the 2nd country ever to win 3 gold medals at the same Worlds (the other was URS-RUS which took 3 in 2005 and all 4 in 1999)

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The Canadian results at Worlds 2023 mean that we will have the following entries at Worlds 2024 in Montreal:
Men - 2
Women - 1
Pairs - 3
Ice Dance - 3