SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — A protracted time coming getting back to the highest of the rostrum, Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier captured one other national pairs gold on the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Saturday night with a spectacular free skate that scored them an overall season-best 227.97.
The reigning world champions were forced to withdraw the night before last 12 months’s nationals when Frazier contracted COVID-19, denying them a likelihood to defend their 2021 title from their first season together.
Skating second-to-last and ahead of eventual silver medalists Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, Knierim and Frazier performed a wide ranging routine to Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times” for a 146.01 to win by greater than 30 points. They recovered from a slight miscue of their planned triple toeloop-double toeloop-double toeloop combination by going clean the remaining of the best way and executing all of the difficult elements with flair and determination.
After they were done, fans jumped to their feet in a rousing ovation.
The tandem, who train in Southern California and paired up after Knierim’s husband Chris retired from skating in 2020, needed to petition for a spot on the Olympic team for Beijing after missing the 2022 nationals. There, they helped the Americans to a silver medal within the team event and placed sixth in pairs. The twosome also earned silver within the Grand Prix final last month.
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Knierim and Frazier held a commanding lead of greater than 15 points over Chan and Howe — 81.96 to 66.86 — after a personal-best short program Thursday heading into Saturday’s free skate.
Chan and Howe continued their breakout season with a season-best rating of 196.86 and their 130.00 free skate, set to a rendition of “Unchained Melody.” They lost points when Chan fell on their throw triple loop.
Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea placed third with a 184.01. They got here into Saturday sitting third after scoring a 65.75 short program, then Kam fell on their opening triple twist within the free skate and nearly slid into the boards. The 2 teamed up just 4 months ago and have high hopes of an Olympic run.
Sonia Baram and Daniel Tioumentsev were fourth at 179.08, scoring a 115.96 within the free skate to maneuver up from fifth place after the short program with a phenomenal routine Saturday at SAP Center.
Earlier Saturday, Madison Chock and Evan Bates defended their ice dancing title Saturday on the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, scoring 137.85 within the free dance for a top total rating of 229.75.
The recently engaged couple has medaled at nationals in every season since 2013. That’s 11 straight years, which matches former training mates Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue (2012-22) for probably the most consecutive years on the U.S. ice dance podium.
“It’s an incredible honor to be one in every of the teams with the longest longevity in the game,” Chock said. “It’s something that we actually pride ourselves on because we’re very motivated people. That’s something that drives us through our profession, and we’ve had plenty of success due to that.”
AP Freelance Author Sonja Chen contributed to this report.
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