Latest news with #USFigureSkatingChampionships
CNN
28-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Alysa Liu takes surprise lead at figure skating world championships, capping her sensational return to the sport
Almost three years after stepping away from the sport, American figure skater Alysa Liu is on the verge of winning a world championship title in stunning and unlikely fashion. The 19-year-old Liu, who had retired from figure skating after claiming a bronze medal at the 2022 world championships, placed first in the short program at this year's event in Boston with a score of 74.58 points. Should she take the title, Liu would became the first American women's figure skating world champion since Kimmie Meissner in 2006. Isabeau Levito, last year's runner-up, is also in contention to end that drought having placed third in the short program on Wednesday, while reigning US champion Amber Glenn is back in ninth. Liu made history in 2019 as the youngest person to win an individual title at the US figure skating championships, aged just 13. She won again the following year, seemingly destined to become one of the biggest stars in her sport. But having competed at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and medaled at the world championships a few weeks later, Liu announced that she was retiring from figure skating at the age of 16. At the time, she explained that she was 'satisfied' with her career, 'done' with her goals and ready to be 'moving on with my life.' Now, Liu says that she feels reinvigorated after her self-imposed break from the sport. 'I think that I have good intuition, and I have learned to trust it,' she said on Thursday, per US Figure Skating. 'I don't think that I would be where I am right now if I had not listened to myself. Others told me that I was making a mistake, but I knew that I was doing what was right for me.' Liu announced that she was resuming her training in March last year before returning to competitions several months later. Her performance on Wednesday was the California native's highest-ever short score in an international competition and included a triple flip-triple toe loop combination and a triple Lutz. Japan's Mone Chiba was second with 73.44 points, narrowly ahead of Levito, who is returning from a foot injury, on 73.33. Three-time defending world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan was fifth with 71.03 points, while Glenn, who fell on her triple Axel, scored 67.65. The women's singles competition will conclude with the free skate on Friday, which begins at 6 p.m. ET. The opening of this year's world championships was also a poignant occasion as the figure staking community paid tribute to those who died in a plane crash in Washington, DC, earlier this year. The midair collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29 claimed the lives of 67 people. That included 11 young figure skaters, four coaches and 13 family members who had attended the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. 'For those who have experience deep loss, we know that time does not simply erase pain,' Kim Jae-youl, president of the International Skating Union (ISU), said during the world championships at Boston's TD Garden. 'For many of us, it feels like we are frozen in time.' A video montage of the athletes who lost their lives was played on big screens at the venue, while a choir dressed in black performed a tribute to the victims. Doug Lane, whose son Spencer and wife Christine were among those killed in the crash, also addressed those in attendance. 'Take extra care to lift up the young skaters that are still here,' he said, per the Associated Press. 'They're hurting. I hope we can support them in their skating journeys, but I also hope we can help them find happiness off the ice as well.'
CNN
27-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Alysa Liu takes surprise lead at figure skating world championships, capping her sensational return to the sport
Almost three years after stepping away from the sport, American figure skater Alysa Liu is on the verge of winning a world championship title in stunning and unlikely fashion. The 19-year-old Liu, who had retired from figure skating after claiming a bronze medal at the 2022 world championships, placed first in the short program at this year's event in Boston with a score of 74.58 points. Should she take the title, Liu would became the first American women's figure skating world champion since Kimmie Meissner in 2006. Isabeau Levito, last year's runner-up, is also in contention to end that drought having placed third in the short program on Wednesday, while reigning US champion Amber Glenn is back in ninth. Liu made history in 2019 as the youngest person to win an individual title at the US figure skating championships, aged just 13. She won again the following year, seemingly destined to become one of the biggest stars in her sport. But having competed at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and medaled at the world championships a few weeks later, Liu announced that she was retiring from figure skating at the age of 16. At the time, she explained that she was 'satisfied' with her career, 'done' with her goals and ready to be 'moving on with my life.' Now, Liu says that she feels reinvigorated after her self-imposed break from the sport. 'I think that I have good intuition, and I have learned to trust it,' she said on Thursday, per US Figure Skating. 'I don't think that I would be where I am right now if I had not listened to myself. Others told me that I was making a mistake, but I knew that I was doing what was right for me.' Liu announced that she was resuming her training in March last year before returning to competitions several months later. Her performance on Wednesday was the California native's highest-ever short score in an international competition and included a triple flip-triple toe loop combination and a triple Lutz. Japan's Mone Chiba was second with 73.44 points, narrowly ahead of Levito, who is returning from a foot injury, on 73.33. Three-time defending world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan was fifth with 71.03 points, while Glenn, who fell on her triple Axel, scored 67.65. The women's singles competition will conclude with the free skate on Friday, which begins at 6 p.m. ET. The opening of this year's world championships was also a poignant occasion as the figure staking community paid tribute to those who died in a plane crash in Washington, DC, earlier this year. The midair collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29 claimed the lives of 67 people. That included 11 young figure skaters, four coaches and 13 family members who had attended the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. 'For those who have experience deep loss, we know that time does not simply erase pain,' Kim Jae-youl, president of the International Skating Union (ISU), said during the world championships at Boston's TD Garden. 'For many of us, it feels like we are frozen in time.' A video montage of the athletes who lost their lives was played on big screens at the venue, while a choir dressed in black performed a tribute to the victims. Doug Lane, whose son Spencer and wife Christine were among those killed in the crash, also addressed those in attendance. 'Take extra care to lift up the young skaters that are still here,' he said, per the Associated Press. 'They're hurting. I hope we can support them in their skating journeys, but I also hope we can help them find happiness off the ice as well.'
CNN
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Figure skating community gathers for ‘Legacy on Ice' to honor those lost in January plane crash
Little more than a month after a tragic air disaster took the lives of 28 members of the US figure skating community, emotions were on full display Sunday in Washington, DC, for the 'Legacy on Ice' tribute. Co-hosted by Olympic champions Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi, 'Legacy on Ice' was described as 'a journey through history, resilience and remembrance.' The event comes in the wake of the January 29 plane crash that claimed the lives of all 67 people aboard American Airlines flight 5342 and the three soldiers aboard a US Army Black Hawk helicopter after a midair collision over the Potomac River. Among the dead were 11 young figure skaters, four coaches and 13 family members who had attended the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. The most emotional moment of the day came as Max Naumov, whose parents Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov died on January 29, collapsed to his knees and sobbed uncontrollably after he skated to one of their favorite songs. Naumov had finished in fourth place at the national championships just days before the tragedy. Sunday's two-hour event featured some of figure skating's biggest names, both current and former skating champions, as well as moving tributes to the legacies of those lost. After recording artist Hayes Warner opened the program with a performance of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah,' Boitano and Yamaguchi addressed the crowd at Capital One Arena. 'As skaters, we have learned to be resilient and to always find a path forward that is positive,' Boitano said. 'This is a way to give back,' Yamaguchi added. 'We are raising funds to support the victims' families, the first responders in this community and US Figure Skating to ensure the legacies of those we lost will carry on. They will not be forgotten.' Amber Glenn, winner of the 2024 Grand Prix Final gold medal, was the first skater to take to the ice. After laying a single white rose on a table adorned with white candles, she skated a poignant routine to 'Rise Up' by Andra Day. When she finished, the 2025 US national champion wiped tears from her eyes as she took her bows. With the emotional tenor of the day established, Glenn's performance was followed by routines from the likes of three-time US champion Johnny Weir, reigning world silver medalist Isabeau Levito, 2022 Olympic team gold medal ice dancing duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates, 2024 World Champion Ilia Malinin and others. As roses filled the candlelit table, speakers shared their memories of the skaters and coaches that perished in the tragic crash. Representatives from the DC's professional sports community — MLB's Nationals, NFL's Commanders, WNBA's Mystics, NHL's Capitals, NWSL's Washington Spirit and DC United of the MLS — were on hand to show their support. The Capitals, whose home arena played host to the event, wore helmet decals in their game Saturday in support of the figure skating community and all those affected by the tragedy. 'Through the artistry of figure skating and the power of music, we honor those lost the first responders, and all who were impacted,' Legacy on Ice organizers said. 'This event traces the triumphs and heartbreaks of U.S. figure skating, connecting past and present to celebrate a sport and a community that has overcome adversity before and stands together once again. 'This is not just for the skating world — it is for all of us. A moment to remember, to heal, and to ensure that legacies live on through the stories we share and the lives we honor.'
CNN
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Figure skating community gathers for ‘Legacy on Ice' to honor those lost in January plane crash
Little more than a month after a tragic air disaster took the lives of 28 members of the US figure skating community, emotions were on full display Sunday in Washington, DC, for the 'Legacy on Ice' tribute. Co-hosted by Olympic champions Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi, 'Legacy on Ice' was described as 'a journey through history, resilience and remembrance.' The event comes in the wake of the January 29 plane crash that claimed the lives of all 67 people aboard American Airlines flight 5342 and the three soldiers aboard a US Army Black Hawk helicopter after a midair collision over the Potomac River. Among the dead were 11 young figure skaters, four coaches and 13 family members who had attended the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. The most emotional moment of the day came as Max Naumov, whose parents Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov died on January 29, collapsed to his knees and sobbed uncontrollably after he skated to one of their favorite songs. Naumov had finished in fourth place at the national championships just days before the tragedy. Sunday's two-hour event featured some of figure skating's biggest names, both current and former skating champions, as well as moving tributes to the legacies of those lost. After recording artist Hayes Warner opened the program with a performance of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah,' Boitano and Yamaguchi addressed the crowd at Capital One Arena. 'As skaters, we have learned to be resilient and to always find a path forward that is positive,' Boitano said. 'This is a way to give back,' Yamaguchi added. 'We are raising funds to support the victims' families, the first responders in this community and US Figure Skating to ensure the legacies of those we lost will carry on. They will not be forgotten.' Amber Glenn, winner of the 2024 Grand Prix Final gold medal, was the first skater to take to the ice. After laying a single white rose on a table adorned with white candles, she skated a poignant routine to 'Rise Up' by Andra Day. When she finished, the 2025 US national champion wiped tears from her eyes as she took her bows. With the emotional tenor of the day established, Glenn's performance was followed by routines from the likes of three-time US champion Johnny Weir, reigning world silver medalist Isabeau Levito, 2022 Olympic team gold medal ice dancing duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates, 2024 World Champion Ilia Malinin and others. As roses filled the candlelit table, speakers shared their memories of the skaters and coaches that perished in the tragic crash. Representatives from the DC's professional sports community — MLB's Nationals, NFL's Commanders, WNBA's Mystics, NHL's Capitals, NWSL's Washington Spirit and DC United of the MLS — were on hand to show their support. The Capitals, whose home arena played host to the event, wore helmet decals in their game Saturday in support of the figure skating community and all those affected by the tragedy. 'Through the artistry of figure skating and the power of music, we honor those lost the first responders, and all who were impacted,' Legacy on Ice organizers said. 'This event traces the triumphs and heartbreaks of U.S. figure skating, connecting past and present to celebrate a sport and a community that has overcome adversity before and stands together once again. 'This is not just for the skating world — it is for all of us. A moment to remember, to heal, and to ensure that legacies live on through the stories we share and the lives we honor.'
Boston Globe
01-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
‘It still doesn't feel real': At the Skating Club of Boston, grief looms over the daily training grind
Weeks after the tragedy, the club is weathering waves of anguish all the while doing what has made it a standard-bearer for figure skating in America for more than a century. There is palpable grief, to be sure, but also the ever present grind of athletes striving for greatness. 'We keep them in our hearts while we do it, and it feels like we're still skating together,' said LoPinto's son, 16-year-old Zachary, who is the top-ranked male figure skater in New England, and fourth nationally, for his age group. Advertisement Han was returning from Wichita, Kan., where her 13-year-old daughter, Jinna, who was also killed in the crash, had attended a development camp following the US Figure Skating Championships. Han and her daughter never made it back to New England. Neither did youth skater Spencer Lane, his mother Christine Lane, and Evegenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, both former elite figure skaters who coached at the club. Zachary LoPinto passed a memorial honoring figure skaters Jinna Han, 13, and Spencer Lane, 16, in a hallway at the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Zachary LoPinto listened to his mother, Donna, while talking about the recent loss to the community at the Skating Club of Boston. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff The LoPintos often traveled with the Hans, and Donna LoPinto considered the possibility of members of her family being on that flight 'a little' haunting. The two families became tight because they were at this Norwood rink six days a week for their children. Indeed, the club's three-rink facility, on a slice of land wedged between Interstate 95 and Route 1, anchored much of the existences of the six victims. Take Han for instance. LoPinto, who considers the Hans to be family rather than friends, said of Jin, 'Pretty much the rink was her life.' Zachary and Jinna shared aspirations of becoming truly elite in their sport. For the LoPintos, that meant moving from Long Island to Canton to give Zachary the best chance at success. He has trained at the Skating Club of Boston for the last four years. LoPinto's husband still lives part time in New York, where he owns an insurance agency. Zachary's commitment to the sport means he attends school online. Jinna, whom Zachary considered to be a little sister, had a similar academic arrangement. Advertisement Zachary's six-day-a-week training regimen is vigorous. Many days he has three 80-minute sessions on the ice, in addition to off-ice jumping, the weight room, and physical therapy. Consistency, he said, is chief among his challenges. Some days, he feels fantastic about his jumps; others, he feels as though nothing is working. And the higher the jumps, the more inconsistent the results, he said. This is his life. 'I feel free on the ice,' he said. Zachary LoPinto passed a bank of mirrors while working out at the Skating Club of Boston. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Zachary LoPinto joined fellow figure skaters in an off ice workout at the Skating Club of Boston. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Out on the ice during a recent weekday afternoon, a handful of skaters worked on their craft. This specific rink, named after Tenley E. Albright, a Newton native who became the first American female skater to win an Olympic gold medal, in 1956, has a capacity for 2,500 spectators and is designated for the highest performing skaters. To the uninitiated, it all looks effortless at first as the skaters glide in elegant arcs, punctuated by spins or jumps. Then occasionally someone lands awkwardly and ends up on their backside. And the truth becomes real: This can be taxing work. Locally, figure skating is a tight-knit community. The Norwood club has about 1,200 members, about 60 percent of whom are 'active skaters,' a spokesperson said. It's one of only three facilities in the nation owned and operated by a figure skating club. The facility opened in 2020, following decades at a rink on Soldiers Field Road. Covering one wall on the side of the rink is a massive timeline chronicling the club's rich history. Its narrative is intertwined with the development of figure skating in the US. The club was founded in 1912. By 1963, it had produced eight female figure skating national champions. Advertisement The display also covers past heartbreak. A 1961 plane crash in Belgium killed the entire US skating team, including 10 members of the Boston club, who were on their way to the world championships. The last photo in the timeline shows the smiling Shishkova and Naumov, the two coaches who died in the D.C. plane crash. They are flanking their son, Maxim Naumov, who was competing at the US Championships in Kansas but traveled home Sunday before his parents. Becky Stump, the club's coaching director, choked up when talking about that family and the club's culture. Shishkova, she said, was 'an absolute sweetheart,' while Naumov 'really cared about his skaters, not just as skaters but as people, which is not always the case with coaches' Originally from Russia, Shishkova and Naumov won the pairs title at the 1994 world championships and competed twice in the Olympics. They were also 'good people,' Stump said. She recalled she wanted to ask Shishkova about where she got her hair done because 'her hair always looked so good.' But coaches at the club are perpetually busy, and she missed her chance. Stump texted Naumov while he was in Wichita, saying she hoped his son, Maxim, would skate well at the US Championships, and included a prayer hands emoji. After Maxim finished fourth, Naumov messaged her: 'God heard your prayers, Becky.' 'Now, I'm reading it and I'm like 'Oh God,'' she said. Coaching director Becky Stump talked about the loss to the community at the Skating Club of Boston. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Maxim has not trained since the crash that took his parents' lives, Stump said, but he has taught some lessons at the club. Advertisement Elite figure skaters, she said, can be adept at compartmentalization. 'Skaters learn to be in the moment when you have to be in the moment and when you're not that's when you have your space to cry, but it's been really tough,' she said, especially since many are still in their competitive season. She pointed out Jinna Han's coach out on the ice. She is coaching a pairs team that is bound for the World Championships next month at Boston's TD Garden. And while the sport often forces its athletes to learn how to deal with deep disappointment, there is still pervasive anxiety attached to the recent catastrophe. Stump mentioned a trip that some of the club's members will take to Colorado Springs for an upcoming competition. 'They're all scared,' she said, referencing the impending plane ride. 'Parents, skaters, everybody.' In a hallway near the rink is an informal tribute to Spencer Lane and Jinna Han. The memorial, located where the two used to lace up their skates before stepping out onto the ice, includes teddy bears, flowers, cards, a hand drawing, candy, and framed photos of each skater. The club expects to have a handful of its members in the mix to qualify for the next Winter Olympics. The organization also thinks multiple Olympic cycles ahead. One pre-teen on the ice, the club spokesperson said, is a prospect for the 2034 Winter Olympics in Milan. Zachary LoPinto's long-term goal is to qualify for the Olympics at least once, maybe twice. More immediately, there is the pain of loss. His mother recalled Jin Han as selfless. 'If you wanted to sit, she'd give you her chair. If you wanted food, she'd give you her food first before she would feed herself,' she said Advertisement Han's husband, Joon, still comes to the rink for a hug, a coffee, or a chat. He pushes Zachary, who considers him an uncle, to excel, said Donna LoPinto. 'Some days,' she said, 'are harder than others.' Danny McDonald can be reached at
