World Figure Skating Championships on channels 22.3–26.3. See the schedule of ‘s sports broadcasts from this link.
Ice dancers Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis went to the European Figure Skating Championships in January with medal goals, but had not fully prepared for what would happen after the dream came true.
– It was such a big positive experience and took energy. It took me a long time to calm down mentally and I got a cold. Only after that did the body and mind let go. It was such a new experience. In the future, you have to remember that even if your body can handle it, it takes time to recover mentally, says Turkkila.
Achieving the EC bronze medal in front of a boisterous home crowd was a reward for a long work for the 28-year-old skaters. Turkkila and Versluis have reached the international top of ice dance during their seven years together, the former Italian ice dance top Maurizio Margaglio in coaching.
The first Finnish ice dance competition medal in 28 years created a media circus: Turkkila and Versluis appeared on various TV shows in the week after the competition and recounted their step-by-step journey in the columns of various magazines.
The journey through the spiritual manacle took a few weeks. Now everyday life is back on its old tracks, and in the end the EC medal didn’t really change anything, says Turkkila.
– Back to work and continued with exactly the same routines, Turkkila says with a laugh.
Programs found to be good did not need to be changed
Turkkila and Versluis were supposed to compete at the end of February in Holland, but the race was missed due to Turkkila falling ill. Thus, the competition break between the European Championship and the World Championship stretched to almost two months. Neither coach Margaglio nor the couple themselves are worried about that at all.
– I am very satisfied with what we have achieved after the European Championships. On an emotional level, the European Championships were extremely taxing, but I believe that we have found focus on the World Championships. Our expectations are high, says Margaglio.
The programs honed over a long season are in good shape. According to Margaglio, the spectators will hardly notice that they have been changed at all after the European Championships.
– There has been little need to make changes, because the programs work really well at the European Championships. Of course, we have made fine adjustments and focused on the nuances. They are important, but not very visible things, says Margaglio.
Self-confidence and courage remained from the European Championships
The EC success increased the couple’s self-confidence and courage to challenge even the best in the world.
– We have tried to forget about the European Championships, because there is still a season left and we are focused on preparing for the World Championships. But the European Championship is in the back of my mind as a warm memory, Versluis formulates.
The season culminates in the world championships in Saitama, Japan – and the competition naturally gets tougher from the European Championships.
In the comparison of the best points of the season, Turkkila and Versluis are sixth. Above are the brightest medalists of the European Championships, the Italians and the British, as well as the tough North American couples.
The fight for victory is expected to be even: in advance, the strongest candidates are last spring’s WC bronze medalists, the experienced US Madison Chock and Evan Bates and the Canadians who overwhelmingly won the Espoo GP race in November Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier.
1. Madison Chock / Evan Bates USA 220.81
2. Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier CAN 219.49
3. Laurence Fournier Beaudry / Nikolaj Sorensen CAN 214.08
4. Charlene Guignard / Marco Fabbri ITA 213.74
5. Lilah Fear / Lewis Gibson GBR 209.18
6. Juulia Turkkila / Matthias Versluis FIN 198.21
7. Allison Reed / Saulius Ambrulevicius LTU 195.67
8. Yevgenija Lopareva / Geoffrey Brissaud FRA 192.85
Only pairs that have registered for the World Cup competitions are included in the list.
The Finns’ best ranking in the global championships is 12th from last year’s World Championships.
– The World Championships are the main goal of the season in addition to the European Championships. There are tough couples against us. We want to show that we belong there among them. We want to improve on last year, says Turkkila.
Saitama, located on the outskirts of Tokyo, hosted the World Cup just four years after the previous ones. Turkkila and Versluis competed in their first joint World Championships precisely in Saitama in the spring of 2019.
Figure skating is a highly respected and popular sport in Japan.
– It’s really great to get to Japan. It’s a great place and it’s expected that a lot of people will come to that big arena. Let’s try to enjoy that experience, says Versluis.
The ice dance competition starts early on Friday morning with a rhythm dance and ends on Saturday morning with a free dance. In addition to Turkkila and Versluis, Finland will be represented at the World Championships in Japan by a 16-year-old single skater Janna Jyrkinenwhose competition starts on Wednesday morning with a short program competition.
‘s broadcasts from the World Championships in figure skating
Wednesday 22.3.
at 3.55–7.45 Areena, at 8.50–9.43 TV2
Couples short program
at 8:45–13:50 Areena, 13:45–14:40 TV2
Women’s short program
at 18:00–18:55 TV2
Compilation
Thursday 23.3.
at 3.55–8.10 Areena, at 8.50–9.48 TV2
Free program for couples
at 8:45–13:50 Areena, at 14:05–15:05
Men’s short program
at 18:00–18:58 TV2
Compilation
Friday 24.3.
at 3.55–9.15 Areena, at 8.50–9.48 TV2
Ice dance rhythm dance
10:15–14:45 Areena, 14:15–15:10 TV2
Women’s free program
at 19:45–20:58 TV2
Compilation
Saturday 25.3.
5.25–9.20 Areena, 10.00–11.15 TV2
Ice dance free dance
10:15–14:45 Areena, 19:15–20:28 TV2
Men’s free program
Sunday 26.3.
at 18:15–19:58 TV2
Gala