Ashley Wagner looks likes she’s having major fun on the ice during her performance at the 2016 Team Challenge Cup held at Spokane Arena on Friday (April 22) and Saturday (April 23) in Spokane, Wash.
The 24-year-old World Silver Medalist skater joined Team North America for the first ever challenge, leading them to the first place spot over Team Asia and Team Europe.
“As @maiashibutani and I stood on the ice last night surrounded by an incredible crowd, we told each other to ‘Remember this moment. Remember this feeling.’ What is the ‘feeling’? Joy… Love… Pride… Gratitude… So many things,” Alex wrote on Instagram after the event.
He continued, “Throughout our career, we’ve performed in so many different places and we’ve been fortunate to experience so many special moments. But, to have the opportunity to close out the Free Dance at a World Championships in the United States, in Boston, at a venue that means so much to the both of us is the stuff that dreams are made of. Thank you to our family. Thank you to our coaches. Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged us on this journey. We are so excited to share this with all of you.”
Alex & Maia Shibutani – Free Dance – Worlds 2016
15+ pics inside from the Free Dance at Worlds 2016…
The brother and sister duo will compete for the title on Thursday, March 31, against Team USA teammates Madison Chock and Evan Bates, and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, and current leaders Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron from France.
“Maia and I are very excited that the World Figure Skating Championships are here in Boston. The enthusiasm and support the city has shown for this event has been amazing, and the Local Organizing Committee has been working extremely hard so that we can all enjoy #Worlds2016,” Alex shared in a little note on Instagram.
He added, “As athletes, it is a gift that we can pursue our dream and perform for an audience. We truly appreciate your support and all of the gifts that are thrown out onto the ice. Because of your generosity, it is sometimes not possibly for the athletes to bring everything home. Therefore, a system will be in place at the TD Garden that will facilitate the donation and delivery of stuffed animals and gifts skaters have received to Boston Children’s Hospital.”
Be sure to tune in TOMORROW to watch Team USA compete for the medals at 7:30PM on NBC!
10+ pics inside of Alex, Maia, Madison C, Evan, Madison H and Zachary…
“The international scene is so strong and it’s getting stronger every single year and I think that it is never a question of whether or not the U.S. ladies are capable of being on that podium; it’s more a question of when we’re going to step up to that challenge,” Ashley shared about the particularly competitive ladies competition.
She added, “This year is going to be about going out there and nailing those triple-triple combinations, nailing those technical marks, performing the hell out of those programs. That is what’s going to get us onto the world podium, and that is a lot to ask of one person, but I think we’re definitely capable of putting that out.”
The 2016 World Figure Skating Championships will be held from March 28th to April 3rd.
The 19-year-old Olympian wowed the crowd and judges with a flawless program, beating out Polina Edmunds, Ashley Wagner and Mirai Nagasu to take the title for the second year in a row.
Earlier in the day, Tarah Kayne and Danny O’Shea scored the Pairs title after scoring 211.65 points, ahead of reigning champs Alexa Scimeca and Christopher Knierim, and Marissa Castelli and Mervyn Tran.
Team USA celebrates with Gracie Gold after the ladies free skate during the ISU World Team Trophy held at Yoyogi National Gymnasium late last week in Tokyo, Japan.
Gracie, 19, pushed Team USA’s lead over Russia and Japan securing the title once again. Team USA won the title in 2009 and 2013.
“Today was a really great day for Team USA,” team captain Evan Bates shared afterwards. “It was a group effort. I thought everyone skated really well and we’re really happy. But at the same time we know that the competition is far from over.”
Evan and partner Madison Chock headed to Hawaii after the competition.
“don’t worry about us,” Evan captioned with a cute Instagram from the tropical islands.
Congrats to ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates for picking up the silver medal at this weekend’s 2015 ISU World Figure Skating Championships held at Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in China.
The duo placed second with 181.34, just a few points shy of France’s Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron. Maia and Alex Shibutani were 5th, while Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue placed 10th.
“It might sound silly because I’m 23 years old, but I’m still learning in this sport,” Ashley shared with press after the free program. “I was a late bloomer. To go out there under such immense pressure, to redeem myself in a way, that’s something I’m very proud of.”
Gracie added, “This year was a little more rough and tumble for me. I’m used to being at least consistently going up, maybe a little down. Wiping the ice at the Four Continents event and breaking a foot aren’t really in my usual plans. Those are some pretty severe ups and downs.”
