Recap: 2023 World Junior Championships
6 min readby Anne Calder | Photographs by Robin Ritoss
The 2023 World Junior Determine Skating Championships protocols are actually recorded within the ISU historical past books. The WinSport Occasion Centre in Calgary, Alberta Canada hosted the forty seventh competitors, February 27 – March 5.
The Rhythm Dance roster started with 30 groups representing 22 nations. On the finish of the session, twenty groups superior to the Free Dance.
Prior to every Press Convention, small medals had been awarded by the Referee to the highest three groups in every phase (RD/FD). Two ice dance groups headed dwelling with three medals per accomplice – CZE and KOR. A medal ceremony was additionally held on the ice on the conclusion of the competitors adopted by the taking part in of the gold medalists’ nationwide anthem.
Historical past was made on the 2023 occasion when CZE and KOR medaled for the primary time on the World Junior Championships.
Rhythm Dance
Mrazkova & Mrazek had been the one crew to earn an ideal (YYYY / YYYY) for his or her eight Argentine Tango key factors. The rotational raise and his twizzle additionally earned stage 4. Dancing Tango to “A Evaristo” and Paso Doble to “Espana Cani”, the siblings earned a 71.19 rating, falling in need of their private greatest by a skinny .68 factors.
“We all know that we will do higher, however we did a sort of secure program, which is nice,” Mrazkova famous. “We simply wished to do what we had been working towards and to get pleasure from this system, and that’s it.”
Lim & Quan danced a fast-paced Milonga to “Primavera Portena”. The twizzles, second Argentine Tango sample, rotational raise and each midline step sequences earned stage 4. The non-public greatest 71.08 rating topped their current Junior Grand Prix Last rating by virtually seven factors.
“I’m glad that the arduous work we put into our technical elements – as an example the step sequence [both level 4] and sample dance – paid off,” Quan stated. ”We’re actually glad we acquired our ranges right this moment. We did wish to beat our private rating.”
Bekker & Hernandez scored a private greatest 68.89 with Flamenco and Tango alternatives by Roni Benise. The duo earned stage 4 for the rotational raise, second Argentine Tango sample, her midline step and his twizzle,
“For such an intense program, it’s really a lot enjoyable to skate,” Hernandez stated. “We now have these little moments scattered by the place we catch every others’ eyes – sure it’s intense – however we get power from one another in these moments. Right this moment we discovered these moments; we linked. We had a good time from starting to finish. We’re glad.”
Bashynska & Beaumont (CAN) had been fourth. Their Spanish Waltz efficiency to “Espana” and the “Tango Grande” from The Nice Gatsby obtained a private greatest 68.00 rating. The opening midline sequence footwork and twizzles earned stage 4 as did the closing rotational raise. The Argentine Tango patterns obtained ranges 1 and a couple of. The Junior Grand Prix Last gold medalists had been nonetheless solely lower than a degree out of podium vary.
’This isn’t a setback,’’ Bashynska stated. ’’Maybe it is perhaps just a little profit for us. It can put much less strain on us for the free dance which is our stronger efficiency. We plan to return again tomorrow (Saturday).’’
Fradji & Fourneaux (FRA) scored a private greatest 65.81 for his or her Tango efficiency to Gringo Nr.1 by Tango for 3, organized by Hugo Chouinard. The twizzles, straight line raise and second Argentine Tango sample had been stage 4. Each midline step sequences had been stage 3.
Free Dance
The panel of judges was launched. The order and a few people had been totally different from the Rhythm Dance. The primary group of athletes was introduced. The groups competed in reverse order of their Rhythm Dance standing.
Mrazkova & Mrazek danced a robust efficiency to “Surrounded” and “The Coronary heart of a King” from The Man within the Iron Masks soundtrack and earned the primary Junior World title and medal for the Czech Republic. The twizzles, rotational raise and dance spin had been stage 4; the round and one foot step plus curve raise earned stage 3. Each the 106.17 phase and whole 177.36 had been private greatest scores.
“The rhythm dance for us was not so nice as a result of we had been nervous; we had been scared to do a mistake,” Mrazek stated. “We tried to be extra chilled within the free dance, and I feel we did it higher right this moment.”
“We actually really feel glad about what we had right this moment. For me, it hasn’t sunk in but,” Quan stated. “We felt humorous dancing in entrance of an enormous crowd like this.”
Bashynska & Beaumont (CAN) scored 101.13 for his or her fascinating interpretation of “Anna’s Theme” from The Crimson Violin by John Corigliano and Elegie: O doux Printemps d’autrefois by Jules Massenet. Their lifts, dance spin and her twizzle had been stage 4; the diagonal step and his twizzle earned stage 3. The Canadian Junior Champions slipped into third place by a .06 margin and took dwelling their second consecutive Junior World bronze medal.
On the Press Convention, Bashynska applauded all of the medalists plus the British crew. “I’m clearly very glad to finish up on the rostrum, and I’m very happy with ourselves and of everyone else right here. Additionally to Phebe and James [who narrowly finished fourth behind the Canadians and off the podium]. It’s solely proper to offer everyone credit score for a way far all of us got here. It’s been a protracted and arduous season for all of us.”
Bekker & Hernandez (GBR) danced a dramatic presentation of Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons that earned stage 4 twizzles, lifts, and dance spin. On the Blended Zone, Hernandez referenced Bekker’s current sickness and his father’s demise two weeks in the past. He famous that underneath the circumstances, they had been extremely happy with what they had been capable of do. The non-public greatest 100.18 phase and 169.07 whole scores assured the British Junior Champions fourth place.
Leah Neset & Artem Markelov (USA) vaulted from seventh to fifth with an exhilarating and highly effective dance to Pirates of Caribbean. The twizzles, dance spin, and lifts earned stage 4. The USA Junior Champions’ Rhythm Dance (64.01), Free Dance (98.58) and Complete (162,59) had been all private greatest scores.
Ice Chips
The rostrum groups will all be transferring as much as the senior ranks subsequent season. They shared their expectations.
- Katerina Mrazkova: “After all sooner or later we wish to be the very best. We don’t know the way it’s going to be subsequent season, so we’ll work arduous like final 12 months. We are going to attempt to enhance all the things – our unhealthy sides and our good sides.”
- Daniel Mrazek: “We don’t have any expectations. It’s a very new class for us.”
- Hannah Lim: “We’re a bit nervous as a result of we now have a whole lot of examples at our faculty (I.AM), and they’re all actually superb senior skaters. I’m glad they’re there so we will look as much as them. I’m nervous, but in addition very excited.”
- Nadiia Bashynska: “We don’t actually have a alternative. We now have to maneuver up. We’re very excited and looking out ahead to exhibiting a brand new aspect of ourselves, clearly stepping up our sport and dealing arduous.”
- Peter Beaumont: “Final 12 months we had been kind of debating about it, however I’m glad that we stayed junior one other 12 months. Now it feels proper for us to maneuver up. I’m wanting ahead to a little bit of Samba and ‘80s’ (music for senior RD) subsequent 12 months.”
Choreographic Aspect Highest Complete Scores:
- Choreographic Character Step Sequence: Leah Neset & Artem Markelov (USA) – 3.95
- Choreographic Sliding Motion: Nadiia Bashynska & Peter Beaumont (CAN) – 3.83
World Junior Championship Medalists Teaching at 2023 World Junior Championships:
- Marie-France Dubreuil & Bruno Yvars (CAN) 1990 (bronze)
- Elena Khaliavina Dostatni & Maxim Shabalin (RUS) 2001 (bronze), 2002 (silver)
- Sylwia Nowak & Sebastian Kolasiński (POL) 1993 (silver), 1994 (gold)
- Tatiana Gladkova & Igor Shpilband (USSR) 1982 (silver), 1983 (gold)
- Anastasia Gorshkova & Ilia Tkachenko (RUS) 2005 (bronze)
The 2024 World Junior Championships might be held in Taipei Metropolis, Taiwan. The allotments per nation:
3 – Canada, Czech Republic, United States
2 – Cyprus, France, Nice Britain, Korea
1 – All different ISU nations
