Team USA nets three medals and inspiring look at Olympic venue
by MIMI WHETSTONE A
s the world’s top seniors took the ice for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, the best up-and-coming junior
athletes headed to Sochi to compete at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, held simultaneously Dec. 6–9. Tis year’s U.S. team, an even mix of veterans and new additions, not only finished the week with three medals, but also gained the experience of perform- ing in Sochi’s Ice Palace, the venue for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. “Te rink is beautiful. Te stands
are amazing. Being on the ice and look- ing around is breathtaking,” said Jason Brown, who finished fourth in the men’s event. “To be with your coach and stand in the Olympic rink is a huge goal and what I hope to be part of my dream with her. It’s amazing to have a glimpse of it and I hope to be in an Olympic rink again.” Brown came to the event as reign-
ing champion and completed his first career triple Axel in the short program
Hannah Miller performs her sassy “Tanguera” short program at the 2012 Junior Grand Prix Final.
competition. While he faltered on the element in the free skate, Brown fought through the rest of his “Liebe- straum” program to earn a total score of 198.32 points.
“I tried to get over what had happened and pretend like everything was the same,” Brown said. “I took one element at a time and that really helped.” Brown’s teammate, Joshua Far-
ris, traveled to Sochi as the event’s reigning bronze medalist. After win- ning the short program segment, Farris fought through his free skate, rebounding from falls on a quad toe and triple Lutz to land five triple jumps, complete two level 4 spins and win the silver medal with 211.37 total points.
“Te Final is the Final,” Farris said. “I learned last year that it’s kind of a bonus round. You do well in your Junior Grand Prix events and it’s the icing on the cake. “I skated probably a little bit
Joshua Farris skates his short program en route to the silver medal at the 2012 Junior Grand Prix Final.
Miller, Angela Wang and Leah Keiser, who finished in second, fourth and sixth place, respectively. Miller executed two solid performanc-
es, setting new personal-best scores in each segment of the competition. “I got my personal best and it’s one of the best skates I could have done,” Miller said. “I have been training really long and hard for this. I’m really happy it turned out how I wanted it to. All my spins and jumps were the best they could be.” Miller finished the week with 168.41 points and her first JGP Final medal. Wang, who finished fourth in the
Hannah Miller wears the silver, her first Junior Grand Prix Final medal, after the junior ladies event in Sochi.
worse than last year and still have improved my placement. I can’t be too disappointed with that.”
Te men’s title went to Russia’s Maxim
Kovtun, who earned 222.31 points. In the ladies event, Team USA was rep- resented by JGP Final first-timers Hannah
16 JANUARY 2013
short program, placed second in the free skate segment with a performance to “La- dies in Lavender” by Nigel Hess that fea- tured seven triple jumps, including a triple Lutz-triple toe-double toe, which netted 12.50 points. “I felt really good,” Wang said. “Tat’s
how I’ve been training, so I am really glad that I was able to show that today.” Wang earned a personal-best score of 110.89 points for her free skate, en route to 162.05 total points.