The World Figure Skating Championships from Montpellier, France is streaming live on USA Network and Peacock this week.
All but two members of the US Olympic team return for the season-ending event.
The two absentees are gold medalists Nathan Chen (injury) and Jason Brownwho made the Olympic team but not the world team after the national championship in January.
Both Chen and the two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu (ankle) from Japan will miss the world, opening the race for gold. Japan Yuma Kagiyama as well as Shoma UnoOlympic silver and bronze medalists are the favorites.
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Vincent Zhou2019 World Championships bronze medalist returns after missing individual Olympics due to testing positive for coronavirus. Ilya MalininThe 17-year-old runner-up to Chen in the national competition was dropped from the three-man Olympic team, but was given the world title in Brown’s place.
In other disciplines, the absence of Russian figure skaters will be felt. The International Skating Union has banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in all disciplines of speed skating until further notice due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In women’s singles, doubles and ice dancing, Russians won five of the nine Olympic medals. World championship podiums are open to everyone.
In the women’s event, for the second time in eight years, a non-Russian champion will win. All three American Olympians return: Alice Liu (seventh place at the Olympics), Mariah Bell (10th) and Karen Chen (16th).
None of the top five couples in the Olympics return, so the top team this season overall is the US couple. Alexa Knierim as well as Brandon Frazier. Another USA Couple, Ashley Kane-Gribble as well as Timothy LeDucranks third in the region. The last U.S. doubles medal was won in 2002 and the last gold in 1979.
In ice dancing, French. Gabriella Papadakis as well as Guillaume Sizeron hope to follow their first Olympic title with a fifth world title. Americans Madison Hubbell as well as Zachary DonoghueOlympic bronze medalists perform for the last time before retiring from figure skating.
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Schedule of broadcasts of the 2022 World Figure Skating Championships
*Delayed broadcast.