ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2023: Sakamoto, Aymoz, Stellato-Dudek... Best quotes from a week in Saitama
In the midst of the biggest figure skating competition of the season, the athletes spoke to the world's press on topics ranging from serious to emotional to just plain funny. We highlight some of the best.
Figure Skating
Jason Brown's coach Tracy Wilson was tugging him by the shirt.
"We have to go," Wilson said on the day prior to the men's free skate. Brown, an American veteran who was skating at his first international event since the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, is a prolific skater - and talker.
"To be continued!" Brown yelled back at reporters as he was whisked away behind a curtain.
The ISU World Figure Skating Championships this past week (22-26 March) in Saitama, Japan, featured the top skaters in the world. In the midst of competing, they spoke to the world's gathered press in both the athlete mixed zone and - for the top performers - an official press conference.
They skate - and speak - with their hearts on their sleeves. We highlight some of their most memorable quotes.
"I'm reborn again today, after two years of fighting, Covid-injuries... I was completely lost, I thought I was going to give up." said an emotional Kevin Aymoz after a triumphant short program. He'd finish fourth in the men's event. "I told myself, 'You're going to fight.' So I'm really happy to be here again today."
Aymoz added after his best-ever Worlds finish: "I'm confused; I mean... don't know what's happening. I'm living a dream. I'm so proud of myself; I didn't know I could do that, so I'm really happy."
What do you do to relax after you win a world championship title - for a second year in a row? Sakamoto Kaori cracked a smile at reporters.
"What should I answer? I haven't thought about it. Maybe I want to drive a car for quite a bit of a long distance."
A road trip at the end of a long season... that does sound good, doesn't it.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek: 'What I'm doing is bigger than me'
One of the stories of the event was 39-year-old Deanna Stellato-Dudek's continued comeback, having spent 16 years away from the sport. She and partner Maxime Deschamps finished fourth.
"I had a good friend of mine tell me that she thinks what I'm doing is bigger than me, that it's actually for everyone and not just for me," Stellato-Dudek said.
"I'm the person that's getting attention now, but there's going to be many after me who are let's say, older than usual, and doing something unique. That takes some of the pressure off of me."
"Win or lose, I'm still trying to be the best at something. Which I think is amazing at any age."
How did 16-year-old Kimmy Repond of Switzerland feel after finishing eighth in her Worlds debut?
Her response was simple: "Incredible," she said.
While Repond was saying hello to the top level of the sport, Canadian veteran Keegan Messing bid farewell to it. It was his fifth and final World Championships with retirement - and two kids at home - looming post-season.
"To skate at this arena, with this atmosphere, for my last world championships I couldn’t have asked for a better experience," a reflective Messing said.
Madison Chock: 'This is the over-30 club!'
What does a coach tell his charge after a week of bumpy practices and the worry of an injury?
"I told him to look far, have a little fun and have a smile," said Stephane Lambiel, who sent Uno Shoma out onto the ice with those final words of encouragement and then watched Uno win his second straight world title.
Coaches are key.
Shae-Lynn Bourne, the well-known choreographer, stepped in for American pairs coaches Todd Sand and Jenni Meno as Sand continues to fight for his health following a heart attack earlier this month. Bourne was tapped by Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier to be at the boards with the 2022 world champs, who finished with the silver medal here.
"It's been a challenge," Bourne told Olympics.com of Sand's absence. "[Todd is] where he needs to be... and they're here to do what he wants them to do, which is the best they can. They need to skate for the love of it. That's it, their mind is in the moment."
For the first time in history, the ice dance podium was all older than 30 - including 35-year-old Evan Bates and partner Madison Chock, who is 30.
"This is the over-30 club. Heyyy!" a coy Chock joked in press. "For the elderly," added Bates.
Estonia's Solene Mazingue: 'Anything is possible'
There were some very emotional stories at Worlds, too, including that of ice dancer Solene Mazingue, who had suffered a horrific fall in practice in October, prompting immediate emergency surgery.
She made it to the World Champoinships five months later.
"Anything is possible and if you believe in yourself and don't give up, you can do it," she told Olympics. "I made it in five months to be here at the World Championships. I just want to give everyone hope, even if it's a small injury or whatever, a problem in your life, anything is possible. If you have a goal in your life, you can make it for sure."
The spirit of Ukrainian athletes is undeniable, including for pair skaters Violetta Sierova and Ivan Khobta, the reigning World Junior bronze medallists who have spent the last year in different countries, training at different rinks out of the kindness of the greater skating community.
"In every country we've skated, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Canada - everybody supported us and gave us the opportunity to skate," Khobta said. "We feel that we are proud to compete for Ukraine and to skate a Ukrainian program. We want to make our country proud of us so we keep working and keep performing."
Added Sierova: "Every time I go to an ice rink, I search for the Ukrainian flag and I think, 'Yes it's my country. And I'm so proud.'"