After the composition of the series has become known member of the first Grand Prix tournament, Skate America, all fans of figure skating was a pleasant shock. Still - the two main stars of the American women's figure skating last five years, whose rivalry loves to discuss the American press, Ashley Wagner and Gracie Gold, will meet again on the same ice. At home, among other things. There comes to mind another bright American rivalry: the future Olympic champion Evan Lysacek and bronze medalist of the World Championship Johnny Weir, which was also a favorite theme of sports journalists. In any case, bored fans of figure skating is not necessary.
Ashley Wagner, US.
Who: Bronze medalist of the Winter Olympics in the team competition (2014), twice world champion in the team competition (2013 and 2015), acting vice-champion of the world champion on four continents (2012), three-time champion of the USA (2012, 2013 and 2015) silver (2012) and bronze (2013 and 2014), prize-winner of the Grand Prix finals, the two-time bronze medalist of the junior world Championship (2007.2009), silver medalist at the junior Grand Prix Final (2006).
Rank ISU: 4
Age: 25
Coach: Rafael Arutyunyan, Hope Kanayeva, John Nicks
The best result in the short program: 74.54 (2016 World Team Cup)
The best result in the long program: 143.20 (2016 World Team Cup)
The best result on the sum of the two programs: 217.74 (Team World Cup 2016)
Music Short Program: "Sweet Dreams" Eurythmics
Music of any program: "Exogenesis: Symphony" Muse
In this April, Ashley finally put an end to the ten-year (since the days of the championship Kimmie Meissner in 2006), the absence of American skaters on pedestals World Championships, sensationally won the silver on home ice in Boston. It should certainly give Ashley's self-confidence and strength to go on, so we can say that in Chicago vice world champion goes undoubted favorite. Now Ashley has everything to win - good technique, great artistry, interesting programs, medal of the World Championship and, most importantly, self-confidence, which often lack summed it before. Judging by the performance at the Japan Open commercial tournament a few weeks ago, the vice-champion of the world is in great shape for the start of the season.
Gracie Gold, USA.
Who: Bronze medalist of the Winter Olympics in the team competition (2014), two-time world champion in the team competition (2013 and 2015), and the double acting US champion (2014 and 2016), vice world champion among juniors (2012).
Rank ISU: 8
Age: 21
Coach: Frank Carroll
The best result in the short program: 76.43 (World Cup 2016)
The best result in the long program: 142.00 (2016 World Team Cup)
The best result on the sum of the two programs: 211.29 (World Cup 2016)
Music Short Program: Assassin's tango John Powell
Music free skate "Daphnis and Chloe" by Maurice Ravel
America's sweetheart, the beautiful princess ice girl with a speaking name - Gracie for her entire adult career so far has failed to win a truly significant gold. But the odds were. At the Olympic Games in Sochi 18-year-old US Champion went to an Olympic hopeful (yes, that's what it was called in the American press), but the nation's hopes were only partially: in team competitions Gracie your perfect rental helped the US team win the bronze medal, but personal was left without a medal after failing to even compete for the bronze medal with the Italian Carolina Kostner. At home the World Cup, that Gracie was going to win, it was the leader after the short program with the fifth best result in history, however, has not coped with the arbitrary and fell on the final fourth place, followed by its main rival and compatriot Ashley Wagner issued a "life rent" and became Vice-champion of the world. Why have undoubtedly gifted athlete, a great actress on the ice, which is, moreover, one of the greatest coaches of American coaches Frank Carroll, nothing is glued to the most important competitions in her career? The excitement and inability to cope with their own nerves - the answer is simple and banal. What do we expect from Gracie in Chicago? There are two scenarios: a humiliating defeat at the World Cup press down Gracie, and act it will be even harder than before, or, on the contrary, current US champion wants to prove to everyone that what happened in Boston - insulting accident, and she was ready to fight and finally -That win. Unfortunately, in the Japan Open rolling inclines to the first version, but in Chicago Gracie has a great chance to prove that it is not.
Mao Asada, Japan.
Who: The three-time world champion (2008, 2010 and 2014) and four continents (2008, 2010 and 2013), the vice-champion of the Olympic Winter Games (2010), four-time winner of the Grand Prix finals (2005, 2008, 2012 and 2013), Champion world Junior (2005), winner of the Junior Grand Prix Final (2004) and Japan's six-time champion (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012), one of the seven women in the history of executing a triple axel.
Rank ISU: 22
Age: 26
Coach: Nobuo Sato
The best result in the short program: 78.66 (World Cup 2014, the world record)
The best result in the long program: 142.71 (2014 Winter Olympics)
The best result on the sum of the two programs: 216.69 (World Cup 2014)
Music Short Program: "Ritual Fire Dance" (piano version) from the ballet of Manuel de Falla's "Love - sorceress"
Music of any program: "Ritual Fire Dance" (orchestral version) from the ballet of Manuel de Falla's "Love - sorceress"
Undoubtedly, Mao Asada - the most titled and the greatest of all participants Skate America. The fact that it has made to skating and in technical and artistic terms - is priceless. We all admire her crown triple Axel, which in addition to her only six skaters performed in the history of the sport. We all remember her full of tenderness, elegance and sensuality program to the music of Chopin, Debussy, Liszt and Rachmaninoff. All of this - classic. From girl prodigy, charmed all the sports lovers phenomenal technique and a light, airy skating, Mao gradually became a fearless and stubborn young woman who, for example, after absolutely a failed short program at the Olympic Games in Sochi could give to any one of the brightest rentals in stories that touched to tears as a simple audience and great champions. It would seem that in 2014 ended with a whole epoch in the women's figure skating, when, after the Olympic Games and World Championship announced his retirement, respectively, a great Korean, Olympic champion Kim Yuna, and her main rival Mao. However, skipping the season, the latter nevertheless decided to return to the sport. Now, her goal - the Olympic Games 2018 in PyeongChang. However, Mao's return was far from triumphant. Four Continents Championships she missed because of injury, while the other two main competitions of the season, the Grand Prix Final and the World Cup, not even on the podium. Now called Mao's favorite at Skate America and, especially, the women's single skating a leader, it is difficult, but the medal win it not that forces, and it is imperative since 2018 - not far off, and the only significant title, which is no Mao - the title of Olympic champion, but to win it is possible only by being in top form and showing consistently high results in all competitions. At the tournament series "Challenger" Finlandia Trophy, where Mao took second place, it does not create a sense that the Japanese woman in good shape, but we should remember that it is - just the beginning of the season.
Julia Lipnitskaya, Russia.
Who: The current Olympic champion in the team competition, European champion (2014), the world vice-champion (2014), silver medalist of the Grand Prix Final (2013), junior world champion (2012), winner of the Junior Grand Prix Final (2011) and twice vice-champion of Russia (2012 and 2014).
Rank ISU: 17
Age: 18
Coach: Alexei Urmanov
The best result in the short program: 74.54 (World Cup 2014)
The best result in the long program: 141.51 (2014 Winter Olympics)
The best result on the sum of the two programs: 209.72 (European Championship 2014)
Music Short Program: "Les feuilles mortes" Koala Liu
Music of any program: the soundtrack to the movie "Kill Bill"
Touching "the girl in a red coat," to conquer the world the incredible combination of sophisticated techniques and artistry, and in fact has become a symbol of the Olympic Games in Sochi, unexpectedly experienced national love, which is largely caused failures newly-Olympic champion in the individual competition, where Julia is not I cope with any short or with any programs and took only the fifth place. A month later, with a little she could be rehabilitated in Saitama World Cup, winning silver and losing only to the great Mao Asada, but the event can be considered as the last, where Julia really rolled in the championship. The girl began to grow, and to typical for all young skaters problems of puberty was added and the national love, and the burden of responsibility and high expectations on teenage laid figurnokatatelnaya public, who saw in the new leader Yulia women's figure skating, and eternal misunderstanding with coach Eteri Tutberidze. The last two seasons Julia frankly failed: for example, on the last championship of Russia, which triumphantly won the new sensation of the Russian figure skating Evgeny Medvedev, Olympic champion was only seventh, the second year in a row without getting to the core of the national team, where we have the maximum number of seats - three. But there are also positive aspects: winter Julia left her coach Eteri Tutberidze, which led to its triumph in the Olympic season, and conflicts with that greatly affects the quality of performances of young figure skater by his mentors Olympic champion Alexei Urmanova. Despite the short period of time while still working together, the results were visible already in the Russian championship, where Julia the first time in a long time to really cope with the short program. Given the strength of character Lipnitskaya, Urmanova experience and a desire to return both Julia to a high level, in this season of the Olympic champion can be expected to return. Skate America - a great place to remind the world about you. However, the presence of such strong competitors like Ashley, Mao and Gracie, Julia chances on the podium is very slim, but anything can happen. One thing is obvious - in Chicago Julia need to ride much better than in Bratislava on the "Challenger" Ondrej Nepela Trophy.
Serafima Serafima Sakhanovich, Russia.
Who: twice world vice-champion among juniors (2014 and 2015), two-time silver medalist at the Junior Grand Prix Final (2013 and 2014), winner of pervestva Russia among juniors (2014).
Rank ISU: 26
Age: 16
Coach: Evgeny Rukavitsin
The best result in the short program: 66.58 (Ljublanja Cup 2014)
The best result in the long program: 125.38 (Ljublanja Cup 2014)
The best result on the sum of the two programs: 191.96 (Ljublanja Cup 2014)
Music short program: the soundtrack to the movie "Hachiko: The most loyal friend"
Music of any program: "The Man With The Harmonica" Apollo 404
Even before last season Seraphim entered into the world's elite junior and was one of the main hopes of the Russian women's skating, coached her then, besides, Eteri Tutberidze, leading to unprecedented heights more than one junior. However, after leaving the highly competitive group Tutberidze, Seraphim, things went quite deplorable: were throwing between the first coach Alina Pisarenko and experienced specialist Eugene Rukavitsin, failing performance at the Russian championship and the junior pervestve country. This season also began Seraphim are not the best way, without getting into the top three winners nor Nebelhorn Trophy, nor Finlandia Trophy. Skate America - a great chance to prove themselves and the fans that all is not lost and the front - big accomplishment.
Finally, let us remember those who stood on the podium of this tournament a year ago:
1st place - Evgenia Medvedeva (Russia, 15)
2nd place - Gracie Gold (USA, 20 years)
3rd place - Satoko Miyahara (Japan, 17 years).
Translated By Google
Start the weekend the first stage of the Grand Prix in Chicago will miss many of the leading Russian figure skaters. For example, the world champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva peterburzhenka stayed home. In those days the pupil Alexei Mishin speaking at the All-Russian competition "Memorial Panin", which take place at the St. Petersburg Academy of figure skating. At a tournament of this magnitude athlete not moonlight. It shows the new program in the best possible way. Corporate soft suit, spacious, like a hoodie. Refined Mozart's music as an accompaniment. Finally, all the complex technical elements, which Lisa plans to beat rivals high-end. The last year and a half skater plagued with failures, bad mood, she and her many fans. In an interview with "Sports Day by Day" 19-year-old figure skater said that finally returned to normal.
