ISU World Team Trophy 2023: USA cruise to 5th title in Tokyo
With a strong all-round cast, the United States led from start to finish in the biennial six-team competition to close out the 2022-23 campaign in Japan.
Figure Skating
The United States lifted the ISU World Team Trophy on the ice at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Saturday (15 April) to draw the drapes on the 2022-23 figure skating season.
The U.S. finished with 120 points after the three-day, six-team competition, 25 more than runners-up Republic of Korea.
Hosts Japan, who captured three of the four gold medals on offer at last month's World Figure Skating Championships, settled for third one point behind South Korea.
The Team Trophy is held every two years with the U.S. last winning in 2019.
Men's free skate: Ilia Malinin may drop quad Axel
The sellout crowd was glued to the final skater of the entire competition, Ilia Malinin. But by the time he stepped on the ice, the U.S. had the trophy in the bag.
“Before I went on to the ice I was excited because I heard that USA is going to win no matter what,” said Malinin, who placed fifth in the long program with 173.64, well off his personal best of 194.29.
“I felt really happy that since this is a team event, they really didn’t even need me to win. But the fact that everyone worked so hard to get to this moment and with that, I was just very impressed.”
The 18-year-old fell twice during his skate, once on his opening quadruple Axel and again on a quad lutz combo.
Malinin hadn’t initially planned on including the 4A but threw it in for the Japanese fans, he said.
In somewhat of a surprise statement, Malinin also said fans might see less of the quad Axel next season when he wants to focus on the creativity to his skating.
“I think my goal for next season is to start pushing that artistic side, the creativeness.
“As of right now I’m not so sure what I’ll do with the technical side.I think it’ll be best if I start getting rid of the Axel but I’m not 100 per cent sure.
“With a little bit more time I’ll be able to fully understand what I want to do next season but the main thing is to work on that artistry and creativeness.”
Japan, eyeing their third title here, clearly missed their reigning world champion Uno Shoma who withdrew due to a right-ankle injury.
Saturday was also the final competitive performance from Canada’s two-time Olympian and crowd favourite, Keegan Messing.
Pairs free skate: Miura/Kihara held off by Knierim/Frazier
Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi have had a historic season, winning every event they entered including Japan's first pairs world championship and Grand Prix Final.
It just didn’t have the ending they were hoping for.
Miura/Kihara failed to top a competition for the first time in 2022-23, losing out to Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier in the pairs free 147.87 to 143.69. Knierim and Frazier, who were dethroned by the Japanese back in Saitama, also led the short program.
Kihara said Saturday was proof that he and his partner still have their work cut out although they will be going into next season as the duo to beat.
“It just goes to show that if the world’s top skaters all come back we’re not guaranteed anything,” Kihara said. “We have to be prepared to make adjustments.”
The Americans declined to say whether they would return for another run but had singular praise for Miura/Kihara.
“They’ve improved on so many levels and they have so many great qualities to them,” Frazier said.
“Alexa and I have had the privilege of competing against them the last two seasons and I think everyone’s calling it a rivalry but it’s just two great teams going back and forth.
“I don’t think we’re looking at the future too much. Most importantly on top of what Alexa said talent wise, they’re great people. Great competitors with great spirit.”