Figure Skating Championships Grace the Ice in Boston

(ATR) The ISU World Figure Skating Championships are being contested in the United States for the first time since 2009, officially opening at Boston’s TD Garden on Wednesday.

It marks the first time that the annual International Skating Union showcase event has been held in Boston in the competition’s 130-year history.

Some 200 skaters representing 38 countries will compete for medals in men’s and ladies' singles, pairs and ice dance.

Competition begins Wednesday with the short dance program in the morning. Opening ceremonies at the 15,000-seat TD Garden will take place later that evening, prior to the men’s short program.

In men’s singles all three Sochi 2014 medalists are in the field. Reigning Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan will be challenged by Olympic silver medalist and three-time world champion Patrick Chan of Canada, who returns after skipping all of last season.

Sochi bronze medalist Denis Ten of Kazakhstan has been hampered by injuries, but could surprise and also factor in the medals. Defending World and European champion Javier Fernandez of Spain should also contend.

On the ladies side, former U.S. national champions Gracie Gold, Ashley Wagner and Mirai Nagasu are seeking to end a U.S. medal drought in the competition dating back to 2006, when Kimmie Meissner claimed gold.

Unlike the men, none of the Sochi 2014 Olympic medalists will be skating in Boston. Nineteen-year-old Russian Olympic gold medalist Adelina Sotnikova has skated a limited schedule struggling to return to form following an ankle injury, while Korean silver medalist Yuna Kim has since retired.

Russian Yelena Radyonova appears to be the front-runner with her stiffest competition coming from teammate and 2016 European champion Evgenia Medvedeva. Back for Japan is 2010 Olympic silver medalist and three-time World champion Mao Asada.

Highlighting the field in pairs are reigning Olympic champions Tatyana Volosozhar and Maksim Trankov of Russia, silver medalists Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov and reigning world champions Megan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada.

Volosozhar and Trankov, who married in August, have won 11 of their last 12 top-level international competitions dating to 2012.

Off the ice, the race to be the next International Skating Union president is taking form as the Boston world championships will be the last for current boss Ottavio Cinquanta, who has led the federation since 1994.

Hungarian skating federation director general György Sallak is expected to submit his official candidature file at the championships joining candidates Didier Gailhaguet of France and Christopher Buchanan of Great Britain.

Gailhaguet’s candidacy has been viewed with controversy due to his involvement in the 2002 Salt Lake City judging scandal. Gailhaguet received a three-year ban for his actions and now serves as the president of the French Ice Sports Federation.

Additional candidates could emerge before the ISU's April 25 deadline to submit candidature files. The skating union will elect its next president at the ISU Congress to be held in Dubrovnik, Croatia from June 6 to 11.

The highlight of the world championships in Boston is expected to be the ladies’ free skate on Saturday evening, April 2. The marquee event follows the pairs free skate.

Medals will be awarded for men’s singles on Friday, April 1, while ice dancing concludes on Thursday, March 31.

The championships run through Sunday, April 5, ending with an exhibition gala.

Individual champions at the world championships will receive prize money of US $45,000, while pairs and dance winners will split $67,500.

The championships – being staged in the U.S. for the 12th time – are organized by U.S. Figure Skating, while the Skating Club of Boston serves as the local organizing committee.

Written by Brian Pinelli

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