Prague, Czechia – Germany’s Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin are poised to claim their first World Championship gold in pairs figure skating, delivering a flawless short program at the World Championships in Prague on Wednesday. The duo leads by a razor-thin margin, setting the stage for a dramatic final free skate on Thursday.
Hase and Volodin scored 79.78 points, narrowly edging out European champions Anastasia Metelkina and Luka Berulawa of Georgia (79.45 points). The performance, set to a tango, was described by Hase as “perfect,” and the best program of the season for the pair. “After we finished, we felt like it was perfect. For us, it was the best program of the season,” Hase said, according to the German press agency dpa.
The close competition underscores the high stakes at the championships. Just five weeks after securing bronze at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Hase and Volodin are looking to build on that success and claim the world title. The pressure is on, as the margin for error is incredibly tiny.
Canada’s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud rounded out the top three in the short program with a score of 75.52. Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel, the second German pair, currently sit in tenth place with 65.35 points after Hocke suffered a fall during a triple Salchow. They will compete in the free skate on Thursday at 18:15 local time (16:15 UTC).
The absence of reigning Olympic and World champions Riku Miura and Ryuchi Kihara of Japan, who opted to skip the competition after a long season, has opened the door for new contenders. Hase and Volodin capitalized on the opportunity, mirroring the strong performance they delivered at the Olympics.
At the Winter Games in Milan, the German pair led after the short program but ultimately fell short in the free skate, finishing behind Miura/Kihara and Metelkina/Berulawa. They are determined to avoid a repeat of that scenario in Prague and defend their narrow lead.
This World Championship could also mark the end of an era for Hase and Volodin as a partnership. The pair has yet to confirm their plans for the future, adding another layer of intrigue to their performance in Prague. Their continued success hinges on maintaining their composure and delivering a strong free skate.
Sakamoto Leads Women’s Competition
In the women’s competition, Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto is in a strong position to secure her fourth World Championship title and potentially cap off her career with a golden finish. The 25-year-old leads after the short program with a score of 79.31, performing to “Time to Say Goodbye.” She is closely followed by fellow Japanese skater Mone Chiba (78.45 points) and American Amber Glenn (72.65 points). Alysa Liu of the United States, the Olympic champion from the Milan Games, did not participate in the competition.
The women’s free skate is scheduled for Friday at 18:00 local time (16:00 UTC). No German women qualified for the event, as none met the International Skating Union’s (ISU) participation requirements.
The competition in Prague is fierce, and the outcome remains uncertain. Hase and Volodin have place themselves in a prime position to win gold, but they will need to deliver another flawless performance in the free skate to hold off the challenge from Metelkina and Berulawa and secure their first World Championship title. The event promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the World Figure Skating Championships.
Next Up: The pairs free skate takes place on Thursday at 18:15 local time (16:15 UTC), broadcast live on Eurosport and ZDF-Mediathek. The women’s free skate will follow on Friday at 18:00 local time (16:00 UTC), also available on Eurosport and ZDF-Mediathek.
What do you think? Can Hase and Volodin hold on to their lead and secure the gold? Share your predictions in the comments below!
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