Latest news with #figureSkating
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Johnny Weir, figure skating legends to hold benefit for Reagan Airport crash victims in Pennsylvania
Some world-class figure skaters visited Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday to announce a major fundraiser. Olympic medalists Johnny Weir, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito will headline Legacy on Ice - Philadelphia. The event is coming to the University of Pennsylvania on Labor Day. It's the second part in a series honoring the 67 people killed when an Army helicopter and passenger jet collided on Jan. 29, 2025. The athletes announced the show's sequel at the Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society in Ardmore. They said they're proud to bring the show to Philadelphia. "I think in times like this, it's difficult to know what the right thing to do is," Weir said. "I think as skaters and as performers, what we do best is perform." The tribute in Washington, D.C., in March raised $1.2 million for several organizations, including the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund. For some performers, the benefit was cathartic. "I think it helped the skating community kind of sit with it and heal a little bit before just jumping into the season as if it never happened," Levito said. Of the 67 victims, 28 were members of the figure skating community. Many had ties to the Philadelphia area. Ice dancer Matthew Jacoby from Bala Cynwyd lost his skating partner, 11-year-old Alydia Livingston. Alydia's older sister and parents were also killed in the collision. "She was amazing," Jacoby said. "She was like, a ball of energy, always filled with positivity and always really excited for practice and skating, just like, true love of the sport, and I really miss her." The athletes said support from around the world inspires them to do their best. "I'm just really excited to see everyone again and feel like we're part of something bigger," Liu said. Tickets for the Sept. 1 event, which start at $100, go on sale on Thursday. The two showtimes are 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Washington Post
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Two women are shattering a figure skating taboo by dancing, together
One night in late February, Madison Hubbell and Gabriella Papadakis, two Olympic gold medal ice dancers, glided into a skating exhibition in Zurich's 85-year-old Hallenstadion to shatter one of figure skating's great taboos by performing not with their longtime male partners but each other. They held hands, locked eyes and twirled under a spotlight at the Swiss show Art on Ice. Their program, skated to Marius Bear's 'Not Loud Enough,' was short and simple, filled with parallel spins, gentle hugs and linked fingers. At one point, Papadakis leaped into Hubbell's arms, flinging her hand dramatically behind her head for several moments before dropping back to the ice.
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Adriana Diaz laces up to take on childhood dream of figure skating with Elladj Baldé
"Never Too Late:" Adriana Diaz hits the ice for her childhood dream Adriana Diaz traded her reporter's notebook for figure skates in the latest installment of "CBS Mornings" "Never Too Late" series. Diaz, who celebrated her 10th birthday with an ice skating party, enlisted professional skater Elladj Baldé as her coach. The Canadian figure skater has gained widespread recognition for breaking traditional boundaries in the sport by incorporating hip-hop, funk and creative expression into his routines. Baldé, whose unique style went viral during the pandemic, reassured Diaz when she questioned her adult-learning capabilities. "It's never, never too late," Baldé said. "I've met people that started skating in their 30s, 40s, even in their 50s." The two-day training session included learning fundamental techniques like crossovers, with Baldé providing constant encouragement. When Diaz did eventually take her first tumble, Baldé congratulated her: "You've officially become a real figure skater." Baldé opened up about his past struggles as a person of color in figure skating. "I would change the way that I skate. I would change what kind of music I listen to. I would try to adapt to that box," he reflected. "I neglected everything that was Black about me and I embraced the White side of me, and that division created a very painful experience." Baldé now helps others embrace their authentic selves through his Skate Global Foundation and training camp. Our "CBS Mornings" series Never Too Late highlights stories of people conquering new challenges or embracing a second chapter at any age in life. Watch the 6-week run, showcasing "CBS Mornings" anchors and correspondents achieving their dreams — both big and small. Share your own Never Too Late story here for a chance to get featured on the show.
National Post
14-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Four Russian figure skaters approved for 2026 Olympics qualification event as neutrals
Four Russian figure skaters were approved Tuesday by the International Skating Union to try to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics as neutral athletes who have not supported the invasion of Ukraine, including 17-year-old national champion Adelia Petrosian. Article content Article content No Russian athletes, however, were approved to compete in the pairs and ice dance disciplines at a one-off Olympic qualification meeting in September in Beijing. The 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics open on Feb. 6. Article content Article content The ISU said 'not all nominated athletes passed the rigorous screening' and the eligibility decisions by its ruling council are 'final with regard to all applicants and not subject to appeal.' Article content Russians and Belarusians have been banned from international skating events since the full military invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022, four days after the Beijing Winter Games closed. Article content The ISU previously said Russia and Belarus can have just one competitor — individual, pair, or ice dance couple — in each discipline at the Olympics. Article content At the 2024 Paris Summer Games, Russia was banned from team sports though a small group of individual Russian athletes ended up being allowed to compete as approved neutral athletes. They were judged not to have publicly supported the war or have ties to the military or state security agencies. Article content A similar process in underway ahead of the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics. Article content The ISU said it 'thoroughly examined public appearances and statements made by the nominated (neutral athletes) since February 2022, to assess any active support for the invasion of Ukraine or any contractual links to Russian or Belarusian military and other national security agencies.' Article content Petrosian is the likely star name among the Russian figure skaters. Article content The two-time national champion turns 18 in June and is coached by Eteri Tutberidze. The storied Russian team mentor was a controversial figure at the Beijing Olympics coaching gold-medal favorite Kamila Valieva through a doping scandal, and the eventual gold medalist Anna Shcherbakova. Article content
CBC
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Only 4 Russian figure skaters approved for 2026 Olympic qualification event as neutrals
Four Russian figure skaters were approved Tuesday by the International Skating Union to try to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics as neutral athletes who have not supported the invasion of Ukraine, including 17-year-old national champion Adelia Petrosian. No Russian athletes, however, were approved to compete in the pairs and ice dance disciplines at a one-off Olympic qualification meeting in September in Beijing. The 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics open on Feb. 6. The ISU said "not all nominated athletes passed the rigorous screening" and the eligibility decisions by its ruling council are "final with regard to all applicants and not subject to appeal." Russians and Belarusians have been banned from international skating events since the full military invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022, four days after the Beijing Winter Games closed. The ISU previously said Russia and Belarus can have just one competitor — individual, pair, or ice dance couple — in each discipline at the Olympics. At the 2024 Paris Summer Games, Russia was banned from team sports though a small group of individual Russian athletes ended up being allowed to compete as approved neutral athletes. They were judged not to have publicly supported the war or have ties to the military or state security agencies. A similar process in underway ahead of the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics. The ISU said it "thoroughly examined public appearances and statements made by the nominated (neutral athletes) since February 2022, to assess any active support for the invasion of Ukraine or any contractual links to Russian or Belarusian military and other national security agencies." Petrosian is the likely star name among the Russian figure skaters. The two-time national champion turns 18 in June and is coached by Eteri Tutberidze. The storied Russian team mentor was a controversial figure at the Beijing Olympics coaching gold-medal favorite Kamila Valieva through a doping scandal, and the eventual gold medalist Anna Shcherbakova. The likely back-up women's skater approved for the Olympic qualifier is 17-year-old Alina Gorbacheva.
