Pairs at 2022 Worlds in Montpellier: a photo-story

Pairs’ podium at 2022 Worlds in France: Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier (gold), Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (silver), Vanessa James and Eric Radford (bronze)

One step in the 2022-2023 season already, we don’t want to let 2022 Worlds’ memories fade away – so we’re embarking in a journey meant to keep them alive.

See it as a movie made of flashes, moments, layers of emotions, if you may: 2022 World Championships in Montpellier, France, as it was, as our minds, our lenses kept it, captured it.

Of course, many things have already changed, and for some of the pairs below this particular edition of the World Championships proved to be their last competitive event. For others, it was just the beginning. For some, maybe, a disappointment, but for most, the much-deserved reward for their hard work and efforts.

Ready?

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2022 World Figure Skating Championships
March 21-27, 2022
Montpellier, France

PAIRS
Gold: Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier, USA
Silver: Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, Japan
Bronze: Vanessa James and Eric Radford, Canada

4th: Karina Safina and Luka Berulava, Georgia
5th: Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nolan Seegert, Germany
6th: Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud, Canada
7th: Miriam Ziegler and Severin Kiefer, Austria
8th: Camille Kovalev and Pavel Kovalev, France
9th: Daria Danilova and Michel Tsiba, Netherlands
10th: Zoe Jones and Christopher Boyadji, Great Britain

WD during FS following Ashley’s on-ice injury: Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc, USA

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We’re starting with the winners, Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier – and their SP performance in Sud de France arena

Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier: an emotional free skate – as if it were a journey, their journey – that had them both in tears at the end

For these two, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, 2022 Worlds is just the beginning, we are ready to bet. Glimpses of their short program in Montpellier.

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara: free skate in Montpellier, and a silver medal to finish the second Worlds of their young career

Beautiful lines, an air of elegance through and through: Vanessa James and Eric Radford’s short program in Montpellier

For Vanessa, previously competing (and winning medals) for France, this edition of the Worlds might have felt like coming home. And what a comeback, winning the World bronze medal alongside Eric Radford – there you have glimpses of their blue free skate.

Karina Safina, Luka Berulava and their short program in Montpellier

What a debut at Worlds for Karina Safina and Luka Berulava; they truly made an impression, and finished the competition on the 4th place.

Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nolan Seegert: short program in Montpellier

Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nolan Seegert finished the competition on the 5th place; free skate in Montpellier

Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud: short program at 2022 Worlds

6th in Montpellier: Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud; and what a beautiful long program this is.

Miriam Ziegler and Severin Kiefer, and their last competitive short program

Miriam Ziegler and Severin Kiefer: their free skate at 2022 Worlds was their farewell to competitive skating. They finished the event on the 7th place, their best placement at Worlds.

For Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc, 2022 Worlds started on a high note: they were in second place after a beautifully skated short program to music from the movie “White Crow”.

But it was not the end of Worlds they envisioned, that anyone envisioned: falling several times during the free skate and hitting her head, Ashley was taken off the ice by medics, leaving everyone worrying. She recorded a video message the following days, detailing what happened afterwards and thanking everyone for the support.

[Photos by Alberto Ponti/Montpellier, France]

TO FOLLOW: Women’s event at 2022 Worlds

2022 WORLDS IN STORIES

Ukrainian skaters at Worlds: sending the message of a country hit by war

Benoît Richaud: “For Kaori Sakamoto, this is just the beginning”

Adam Siao Him Fa, ready for the next 8 years of his career