2023 World Championship Recap

The 2023 World Figure Skating Championships have now come to a close, but not without their fair share of excitement (albeit some boredom), tears, and drama. The crowd this week in Saitama, Japan definitely helped create so many magic moments. Here are some of my favorites from each discipline (and here’s to hoping the footage actually ends up on Youtube)!

Men

The Men's discipline was far and away the most exciting and compelling competition of the week. The cut off point for the free skate was so high- I mean, 7 skaters scored over 90 points in the short program. The level of the last group of the free skate was Insane. Seeing Shoma perform so well for the win after spraining his ankle, Ilia hitting the quad axel, Kazuki’s step sequences, clean skates from both Jun and Kevin, and of course the incredible skating from Jason Brown- unreal. My takeaway- men’s skating is turning into the premium ticket in this sport. Everyone should get on board.

Women

To be honest, the women’s competition this week didn’t take my breath away. There were some great skates, and I’m so happy that Kaori was able to secure her second gold medal, but I was perhaps a little…bored at times. Overall, I think Kaori and Isabeau’s short programs, and Haein Lee’s crispy clean free skate were the top moments in my mind. I hope next year we see more originality in programs. It feels sad to be bored by what was previously your favorite discipline :(

Dance

We all know ice dance is fake, right? Everyone’s laughing? Yeah, this ice dance competition was a bit of a joke. There were such great performances, but in my opinion they were buried by politics. None of the three medalists had compelling performances or programs. I mean, Madison Chock splat herself onto the ice and still won gold with a personal best- bullshit. So here’s my podium

Gold: Fournier Beaudry/Sorenson. If you skate with that much power, and you’re that hot, you should win gold.

Silver: Fear/Gibson. Yes, they’re rich. Yes, she has no edges. But they had a Lady Gaga program.

Bronze: Muramoto/Takahashi. We should give Daisuke another world medal, just for shits and giggles. I mean, he didn’t even fall over this week. That should be REWARDED!

Pairs

Look, pairs was never going to be the highlight of the week, considering an overall lack of depth this year. But it wasn’t without its moments.

For me, the standout was clearly the Japanese team. Riku and Ryuichi had such a spectacular short program, and despite the mistake in the free skate, still had the most dynamic and engaging performance. The crowd reaction to them was insane, and Riku’s Kiss and Cry moments, jumping up and down after the short, and her look of total shock after the free skate when she realized they had won, were some of the most heartfelt moments of the weekend.

And I would be remiss to not mention how impressed I was with Lia and Trennt from Canada. They’ve not even been together for a year, and still managed to place 6th, with full triple elements (which many other pairs who’ve been together for years aren’t even doing). Watching their performance level felt HOPEFUL.

Greatest Hits

Some of the best moments don’t come from the skating. They come from the PEOPLE.

Gold: Belinda calling out Morisi’s poor Toe Loop and saying that it should be invalidated. The COURAGE that she had to say that on an ISU broadcast is incredible- she’s doing everyone a real service. https://twitter.com/satossca/status/1638874537185124355?s=20

Silver: Kevin’s Kiss & Cry reaction after his long program. I was genuinely scared for Silvia’s life.

Bronze: Haein mouthing “I am Kim Yuna” before her free skate. Icon status. She knows her roots. https://twitter.com/tegomass/status/1639617418111639552?s=20

Pewter: Piper and Paul’s miming during the bows of their Evita free dance. This is not here out of love, it’s here out of spite. This made me throw up in my mouth a little. I hope they NEVER do this again.