International Figure Skating May/June 2019

Historically, post-Olympic seasons tend to be transitional in nature. Many of the skaters from the previous quadrennial have moved on and nations are looking for their next generation of stars. However, as much as the skaters from the last quadrennial were admired, they were scarcely missed and rarely mentioned throughout the past season. It was great to see fans embracing and focusing on the current skaters, many of whom shone on the international stages. The World Championships in Saitama should have been a well-oiled machine given how much experience the Japanese have in organizing major competitions. While things may have worked on the fan side, that was certainly not the case backstage for the media. The event began with not enough tables and chairs to provide working spaces for everyone…

In a skating world that is primarily focused on jumps, Kévin Aymoz of France is one of the rare exceptions. Though the 21-year-old did not medal at any of his competitions this season, his musicality, interpretation, and presentation of his programs won over a legion of new fans. In his first full year as a senior, Aymoz placed seventh and fifth, respectively, at his two Grand Prix assignments — Skate Canada and Internationaux de France. He made a quantum leap from a 15th-place finish at 2017 Europeans to fourth in 2019, missing the third step of the podium by 0.74 of a point. Seventh after the short program in his World Championships debut, he achieved his goal of skating in the penultimate group for the free. Aymoz finished in 11th…

Post-Olympic seasons are always interesting. With many of the veterans and reigning champions stepping away, doors open for new stars to take center stage. At the beginning of the 2018-2019 season, many fans were excited that Russia’s Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva would continue their competitive careers, and it was expected they would be dominant forces on the international stages. But, it was another young Russian — Sofia Samodurova — who made a splash on the international circuit this season. The 16-year-old from St. Petersburg made her debut in the junior ranks in 2017, winning both her Junior Grand Prix assignments and earning a place at the 2017 Junior Grand Prix Final where she finished sixth. Due to injury she was unable to compete at Russian junior nationals and was…

A dynamic young skater from Mexico is blazing a new trail for his country — one he hopes will be the starting point for future generations to follow. With his engaging style and dashing good looks, Donovan Carrillo has been charming audiences around the world the past couple of seasons. A natural entertainer, he believes figure skating has given him the perfect platform to express himself. Born in Zapopan in the state of Jalisco, Carrillo is the son of two physical education teachers who encouraged their children to participate in sports at an early age. Carrillo tried karate, diving, gymnastics and soccer, but none of them grabbed his attention. Carrillo first became interested in figure skating when his older sister, Daphne, asked her parents if she could take lessons after…

It had been 13 years since a Canadian ice dance team stood atop a World Junior podium. Following Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir’s victory in 2006, Russia and the U.S. dominated the discipline for more than a decade, with Russia claiming seven titles and the U.S. five. But Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha put an end to that long run with their win in Zagreb. Having trained alongside Virtue and Moir for two years, this victory was especially symbolic for the young Canadians. “We feel amazing about this. Tessa and Scott have been an amazing inspiration for us, and we hope to follow in their footsteps,” said Lajoie, 18. The previous two seasons had been an emotional rollercoaster laced with disappointing results for the Montréal-based duo. “We were sixth at…

Perhaps the most telling sign that Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier’s attitude has changed is not the regular appearances they have made on the podium — but rather, the disappointment they express with the color of some of the medals they won this past season. Gilles and Poirier claimed bronze at both their Grand Prix events in Canada and France, but did not qualify for the Grand Prix Final in Vancouver. Not making the cut was a disappointment for the team. On the flight home from their second Grand Prix in France, their coaches — Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs — decided that rather than spending the week of the Grand Prix Final being miserable, Gilles and Poirier should instead compete at Golden Spin of Zagreb in Croatia. They wound…