Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron stop for a picture and a smile on their way to the press conference after the short dance: they won this segment of the event, with 81.10 points (a personal best score for the SD)
We know you’re going to like these photos – not just because they’re beautiful photos of beautiful people, but also because they were taken backstage, in the “kitchen” of the event, off-limits for fans. And so we’re bringing you joyful glimpses from the mixed zone, the press conferences, the draws – and you’ll surely sense the excitement, enthusiasm, emotions. Day one and bits of day two at 2017 Cup of China in Beijing, through the lens of Xingang Mi. Enjoy.
Top three teams after the short dance in Beijing; from left to right: Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev (3rd, 72.34 points), Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron (1st, 81.10 points), Madison Chock and Evan Bates (2nd, 72.66 points)
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, smilingly waiting for the free dance draw
Another pair of smiles: Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev – and a cute phone cover in the back
Tiffani Zagorski and Jonathan Guerreiro sit in 4th place after the short dance
Back against the wall and a big smile for the photographers: Lorraine McNamara and Quinn Carpenter, 5th after SD
Group photo in the press conference room, while waiting for the draw: Elliana Pogrebinsky and Alex Benoit (7th after SD), Lorraine McNamara and Quinn Carpenter
The three Chinese ice dance teams sharing a photo: Shiyue Wang and Xinyu Liu (on their feet, 8th after SD), Hong Chen and Yan Zhao (9th after SD), Xiaotong Wang and Kaige Zhao (10th after SD).
The intermediate podium after the ladies’ SP: Elena Radionova (3rd, 70.48 points), Gabrielle Daleman (1st, 70.65 points), Wakaba Higuchi (2nd, 70.53 points)
Marin Honda drawing her number for the free skate
…and Mai Mihara, red rose in her hair, doing the same
The amount of talent in this picture is to die for: Mai Mihara, Marin Honda, Wakaba Higuchi
Top 3 men after the short program: Javier Fernández (3rd, 90.57 points), Mikhail Kolyada (1st, 103.13 points), Boyang Jin (2nd, 93.89 points)
An anxious Boyang – see the fists constantly moving? – waiting for the free skate draw
Smiling teammates: Han Yan and Boyang Jin
Pairs ended the first day of competition in Beijing – and here you have the best three after SP: Xiaoyu Yu and Hao Zhang (2nd, 71.37 points), Wenjing Sui and Cong Han (1st, 80.14 points), Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise (3rd, 63.76 points)
Tired Cong Han and smiling Wenjing Sui at the end of a long, long day of competition – they are the overnight leaders in Beijing
In 4th place after the short program, Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro
There are more than two faces in this picture: Mingyang Zhang and Bowen Song (6th after SP) brought their gifts from fans with them
Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc (7th after the short program in Beijing)
Now onto day two of competition – and we’re heading to the ice dance medalists: Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron (middle) won the event with World record scores for both the free skate (119.33 points) and the combined total (200.43 points) – the first ice dance team ever to break the 200-point barrier. They were followed by Madison Chock and Evan Bates (right, 184.50 points overall) and Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev (left, 182.84 points overall).
Gabriella Papadakis during the press conference after the free dance
Happy medalists in Beijing: Mikhail Kolyada (middle) won the first Grand Prix event of his career, with 279.38 points; he was followed by China’s Boyang Jin (left, 264.48 points) and USA’s Max Aaron (right, 259.69 points).
A smiling silver medalist: Boyang Jin
In the ladies’ event, the gold medal went to Russia’s Alina Zagitova (213.88 points), followed by Japan’s Wakaba Higuchi (212.52 points) and Russia’s Elena Radionova (206.82 points) – while the pairs’ crown was won by Wenjing Sui and Cong Han (231.07 points), followed by Xiaoyu Yu and Hao Zhang (205.54 points) and Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro (194.52 points).