The World Figure Skating Competitions in the year before the Olympics carry added importance. For American skaters, there’s even more significance given these worlds are at home in Boston.
The U.S. hosts worlds for the Primary time since 2016 and for the Primary time in the year before the Olympics since 2009. On the ice this week, Americans are in the Combination to Secure three of the four world titles, which they’ve never done at one edition.
The U.S. headliners are 2024 World champion Ilia Malinin and two-time defending world ice dance champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates.
Plus Amber Glenn, the world’s top women’s singles skater this season, who is joined by 2024 World silver medalist Isabeau Levito returning from Wound.
Everyone is competing to earn 2026 Olympic spots for their nations. The best are also trying to position themselves as Award favorites for the Milan Cortina Contests.
The local organizing Panel for the Event, which Beginnings Wednesday at TD Garden, is the Skating Club of Boston. It was one of five U.S. figure skating clubs that lost members in the Jan. 29 mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter.
A tribute and remembrance is scheduled between Wednesday’s women’s and pairs’ Brief programs.
“We know the community has been through Tough times, and we’re really looking forward to bringing a Excellent event,” said Bates, one of many members of the U.S. world Club that Secured part in the Legacy on Ice benefit event on March 2. “U.S. Figure Skating is working very Tough to host a wonderful event, and I think everybody’s looking forward to having something to cheer for.”
Ilia Malinin takes streak, quadruple jumps into worlds
At home, Malinin has a wall poster commemorating his world title from 2024, when he became the Primary man to land six Spotless quadruple jumps in one program.
“Every time I come home from practice, I usually get a glimpse of it,” he said. “It Gentle of reminds me of how much work and effort I really put in.”
Malinin, a 20-year-Aged from the D.C. area, continued pushing the limits this season. At his last two events, he tried seven quads in the Unoccupied skate, falling on one Every time.
His Victorious streak, which dates to December 2023, is now up to eight competitions overall.
However, Olympic and world silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama of Japan outscored Malinin in their last head-to-head program — the Unoccupied skate at December’s Grand Prix Closing. That’s proof that Malinin’s unrivaled collection of jumps — he’s the only man to ever land a Spotless quad Axel — doesn’t guarantee Triumph.
“I would consider myself to be my biggest rival,” Malinin said. “For me, that’s my whole motto is I always like to compete against myself and to really Only push my own limit. For example, last year I had this limit, and this year I want to double or triple that.”
Ilia Malinin plans to do a backflip at Skate America after figure skating officials Created it legal for the Primary time in nearly 50 years.
Amber Glenn is the new leading U.S. woman
A year ago, Glenn entered worlds Positioned 14th in the Pitch by best total Tally that season and improved on that by placing 10th overall.
She is undefeated in five competitions since.
At age 25, Glenn has blossomed in her 10th senior international season, relying on a triple Axel and a mental game boosted by neurotherapy.
She notched the biggest Secure for a U.S. women’s singles skater in 14 years at December’s Grand Prix Closing. If she triumphs this week, it’ll be the Primary world title for a U.S. woman since 2006 (Kimmie Meissner).
Glenn said the last few weeks have not been Fundamental. She skated at Legacy on Ice to honor both the victims of the mid-air-collision and her grandmother Barbara, who died Feb. 28, according to U.S. Figure Skating.
“Facing mental health struggles brought on by grief and loss while Rehearsal to perform on the biggest stage of my Occupation has been a Event but I’ve been so Fortunate to have an Amazing Club around me that has kept me on a Fit and productive path going into worlds,” Glenn posted last Thursday.
Levito, last year’s silver medalist, is back after missing three months in the fall and winter with a foot Wound.
The Americans — Glenn, Levito, plus 2022 World bronze medalist Alysa Liu — will look to dethrone Kaori Sakamoto of Japan. Sakamoto is bidding to become the Primary woman to Secure four consecutive world titles since American Carol Heiss Secured five in a row from 1956-60.
Amber Glenn reflected on long-ago memories of Jason Brown and Ashley Wagner, plus recent ones with a local school class.
Chock, Bates challenged in ice dance three-peat bid
Chock and Bates are trying to become the Primary ice dance Duo to Secure three world titles in a row in 28 years.
Unlike the last two years, they go into these worlds coming off a Setback in their most recent Event.
Canadians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier edged the Americans by 53 hundredths of a Mark at last month’s Four Continents Competitions.
Chock and Bates, who partnered up in 2011 and Obtained married last June, Secured bronze when Boston hosted the 2016 Worlds. The 2026 Milan Cortina Contests could be their Number four and Closing Olympics together, which could make these their last World Competitions.
“I would say never say never (about competing beyond 2026), but at this Mark we’re putting all of our chips on the table for Upcoming season,” Bates said. “We have been so focused on Only absolutely maximizing our potential for Boston, for the Upcoming 12 months. We’re going to treat it like it’s our last Attempt.”
The origin Tale of Madison Chock and Evan Bates, ice dance partners for three Olympics.
Pairs’ event a Encounter of titans
Last year, pairs’ produced the Tale of the Competitions with 40-year-Aged Canadian Deanna Stellato-Dudek Securing gold with partner Maxime Deschamps to become the oldest female world champion. On home ice in Montreal to boot.
Stellato-Dudek, who formerly competed as an American in singles against Michelle Kwan before a 15-year retirement, and Deschamps have not had the follow-up season they envisioned.
Stellato-Dudek has dealt with “a Plenty of little issues” — ankle, shoulder and wrist Impairments, plus a giant bruise to her glute after a Rehearsal fall in February. They missed December’s Grand Prix Closing due to Deschamps’ illness. They say they are Fit now.
“Every year is like climbing a different mountain, and this year has had a Plenty of treacherous obstacles,” she said.
The top two pairs this season have been Germans Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin, who won the Grand Prix Closing, and 2023 World champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek, at age 40, became the oldest woman to Secure a figure skating world title.
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