Haven has been battling a severe knee injury for the past year, so this win is huge!
But who are Haven and Brandon? Check out our Five Fast Facts about the team below:
Haven is 21 and Brandon is 24. They’ve been partners since 2002, when they were a roller skating team.
Haven’s older sister is Caydee Denney. She and Caydee (with partner John Coughlin) shared the title of US Champions in 2012. Caydee was at the senior level, while Haven and Brandon won the junior title that year
They were also the 2013 World Junior Pair Champions
Brandon and Haven took most of 2016 off, because of her injury. She had torn the anterior cruciate ligament, lateral collateral ligament, and bilateral and lateral meniscus in her right knee
They’re perfectionists. Brandon shared, “Haven and I, we’re perfectionists. You should see us training. Today was all about going out and doing what we can. We had to fight. The result is always a bonus for us. We’re excited to be out here again. We’re back. This whole season has been a comeback season.”
Ashley and Tim, who both came from different partnerships and a singles career, earned 69.33 for their short program — ahead of champs Tarah Kayne and Daniel O’Shea, who took 5th place.
Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu, the reigning Olympic and World champion, was involved in a nasty ice collision during practice ahead of the free skate during the 2014 Lexus Cup of China on Saturday (November 8) in Shanghai, China.
The 19-year-old figure skater and China’s Han Yan crashed into each other during warm ups, which left Yuzuru on his back with blood streaming across his neck and face from a cut on his chin. Eek!
Determined to skate his free program, Yuzuru did just that and even though he fell from five of his jumps, he still placed 2nd, taking home the silver medal.
Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani show off their fierce paso doble dance for the short program during the 2014 Lexus Cup of China on Friday night (November 7) in Shanghai, China.
“In one word, it was the worst,” Yuzuru shared with press after his short program, where he placed second. “It’s surprising that this kind of performance was good enough for second. It’s extremely frustrating. I’ll have a hard look in the mirror, and then I want to put on the kind of performance tomorrow [in the free skate] that people expect from me.”
Richard, who skates for Team USA, placed 4th. Julia currently sits first for the ladies with Polina, Christina and Ashley at 7th, 8th and 11th.
