ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2023: Home hopes Miura/Kihara lead pairs event after career-best short program
The Japanese duo are on the cusp of winning the nation its first-ever pairs world title after the opening session of the worlds in Saitama, Japan. Reigning champs Knierim/Frazier sit second.
Figure Skating
Miura Riku couldn't help herself as she leapt for joy in skating's "kiss & cry."
The TV screen in front of her and partner Kihara Ryuichi had flashed up the Japanese duo's career-best score of 80.72, but it hadn't been announced in the Saitama Super Arena.
But when it was, the home crowd roared.
Miura/Kihara roared into the lead themselves with a near-flawless skate on Wednesday (22 March) at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan, putting them just a free program away from winning this skating-rich nation its first-ever world title in the pairs discipline.
"We were confident about the practise we’d put in for this so we're thrilled all the work paid off and led to this great result," Miura said."The crowd really gave us a lift today. It’s the first time in a while we were able to actually hear the [crowd] in a competition in Japan. It was just really nice."
Added Kihara, "We’ve been training really well in Toronto. Tomorrow in the free skate, we show everything we’ve been working on in practise. We weren’t sure if we could top 80 points but we were confident about a new PB. But yes, we are really happy with the outcome."
Reigning world champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier skated last, but a fall from Frazier on their side-by-side jumps meant the Americans sit second with a 74.64.
Italy's Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii are third with a 73.24, Macii roaring with delight as the two finished their program, a career-best score by some three points.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada are fourth with a 72.81, while Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe round out the top five with a 70.23.
Miura/Kihara have had a golden season, capturing all three Grand Prix events - including the Grand Prix Final and then last month's Four Continents Championships. They were the first Japanese pair to win either of those ISU events, but the worlds would take them to the next stratosphere.
Knierim/Frazier are still within striking distance for the free skate, set to take place Thursday (23 March). The U.S. duo is looking to become the first pairs team to successfully defend a world title since Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford did so in 2015-16.
Pairs short: Miura/Kihara excel under home pressure
Skating just before Knierim/Frazier, Miura/Kihara went from strength to strength to strength in their short, which had previously earned a career-best at NHK Trophy this season with a 78.25.
They opened with a crisp triple twist, then were strong in side-by-side triple toe-loops before their Axel lift earned them their highest Grade of Execution (GOE) of the day with a 2.80. They had no problem with a throw triple Lutz thereafter, either.
The two collapsed into one another as they finished, the Japanese crowd rising to its with applause. Miura's exuberant reaction would come just minutes later as Knierim/Frazier took to the ice for their program.
The Americans started strong, but lost significant points when Frazier fell on their side-by-side jump attempt. They rebounded well, including a strong throw triple flip landed by Knierim.
"We did a lot of good things that we do at home," Frazier said. "I'm personally disappointed in the jump and the mistake. It happens, but I expect more from myself. I need and should do better."
They're competing here without their coach, Todd Sand, who suffered from a heart attack earlier this month and has remained home in California to continue his recovery.
"Todd's condition is very serious," said an emotional Knierim. "It's difficult to train when you feel broken inside. When your person is not there. That person is the one that instilled fight in us. I think we did a good job of that today.
Conti/Macii are seeking to win Italy its first-ever medal in the pairs discipline.
"It's incredible to sit here with these two incredible teams," said Conti. "For us it was the best short program we've skated. We're so happy. The emotion is too high and the [feelings] are incredible.
Added Macii: "Every new achievement has been incredible. We're going to do the best tomorrow in the free. It's a dream coming true."
Stellato-Dudek is the oldest skater - male or female - at Worlds, the 39-year-old having taken a 16-year hiatus from the sport before returning in 2016.
"I had a close friend of mine tell me that they think what I'm doing is bigger than me," she said. "[That me competing is] actually for everyone and not just for me. ... There's going to be many more that come after me that are, let's say, older than usual and doing something unique. That actually kind of takes some pressure off of me."