The International Skating Union (ISU) organizes the great World Synchronized Skating Championships which gathers the best teams leaving the audience mesmerized with their exciting choreography and performances on ice. Due to the Croatian Skating Federation’s skullfully executed candidacy process, Zagreb was elected the host of this year’s competition.
In fact, Zagreb originally submitted the bid for hosting the 2021 World Championships. However, the championship was postponed to 2024 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Candidacy for a competition as big as this is an extremely complex process, but after taking into account the high-quality organization of the World Synchronized Skating Championships in 2009 and the two European Figure Skating Championships in 2008 and 2013, the Croatian Skating Federation received exceptionally positive evaluations and an advantage over other candidates.
And so, on 5 and 6 April in Zagreb Arena, more than 420 figure skaters gathered in 21 teams from 17 countries. In the span of a few days, in its hotels, catering establishments and at the competition in the Arena, Zagreb hosted 800 athletes, coaches, judges and staff, as well as 2,500 fans, family members and friends of the skaters.
A century-old skating tradition in Zagreb makes it an excellent host
The first ice rink in Zagreb was opened 150 years ago on Marko Marulić Square. What followed was a long-standing development resulting in Dom sportova arena, the Šalata sports and recreation center and a skating rink Velesajam becoming the center of winter sports and the ideal spot for winter recreation and fun for the people of Zagreb. Skating sports heritage is significant in Zagreb, and now the Zagreb Arena has proved itself as an excellent host for winter sports. This impressive sports facility needed to be additionally regulated and adjusted for this event on ice, especially since it was a World Championships, and it hosted around 2,000 spectators daily.
The first day of the competition featured the short program, while the second day featured the long program. The day before the event, spectators had the opportunity to watch the training sessions, followed by the drawing held afterward. The skating order for the first day took into account the results from the last World Championships and the groups were formed accordingly. Four groups were formed for the short program. On the second day, groups were formed based on the results of the short program and there was a redraw of the starting numbers.
Les Supremes from Canada won the gold medal for the third time
The fight for the medal was fierce but fair. It did not allow for the slightest of mistakes which, unfortunately, placed the Finnish champions third. The Helsinki Rockettes team, known for their somewhat rough skating style, won the silver medal after the short program. However, due to a mistake in the form of an unsuccessful lift in the long program “Incantation”, they ended up with the bronze medal.
USA team Haydenettes won the silver medal which was their first podium in a long time. Their long program “Who Wants to Live Forever” has showcased an exceptionally trained choreography and it won them their first-ever silver medal.
The World Synchronized Skating Championships in Zagreb has shown that with great effort, hard work and discipline it is possible to make history. Canada team Les Supremes has won their third consecutive gold medal and has once again demonstrated their superiority over the competition. The long program “Mount Everest” scored the Montreal team a total of 237.97 points and thus made them the triple champions.
The Croatian national team scored 40.76 points for the short program and 87.55 for the long program, and with the grand total of 128.31 points they broke the national record and secured the 19th position in the overall rankings.
Photo credit: Croatian Skating Association