2025-26 Pairs General Discussion: Who Wants to Lift Forever?

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

John Crafoord is retiring.

John Crafoord avslutar karriären i paråkning

John Crafoord avslutar sin karriär inom paråkning på grund av skada. Hans tvillingsyster Greta söker nu ny partner för att fortsätta sin satsning....

www.mynewsdesk.com

When was the last time we even saw them compete? Two years ago? I’ve always wondered why they couldn’t improve no matter who the coaches were.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Actually, their last competition was last season - the Road to 26 test event in Milano. They weren't sent to the OQE by the Swedish fed.

OK, good to know.

 

[Sylvia]

Wenjing Sui posted her FS run through with Cong Han:

WenjingSui on Instagram: "自由滑青绿2.0练习版，无论是节目内容，还是表演者体验都有一定的调整和升级，不断思考打磨会让作品表达更完整。"

Join the latest revolution in ice skating with Freedom Ice Skating 2.0. This cutting-edge version introduces new adjustments and upgrades to program content and performer experience, creating a more polished and authentic expression of the art form. Explore the intersection of creativity and...

www.instagram.com

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Wenjing Sui posted her FS run through with Cong Han:

WenjingSui on Instagram: "自由滑青绿2.0练习版，无论是节目内容，还是表演者体验都有一定的调整和升级，不断思考打磨会让作品表达更完整。"

Join the latest revolution in ice skating with Freedom Ice Skating 2.0. This cutting-edge version introduces new adjustments and upgrades to program content and performer experience, creating a more polished and authentic expression of the art form. Explore the intersection of creativity and...

www.instagram.com

The twist was interesting. I suppose they need that extra person there to help spot?

 

[Karen-W]

So, MiuKih withdrew from the FS at Japanese Nats after Riku dislocated her shoulder during the SP warm-up yesterday.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2002582180778963341

Apparently, this is a recurring injury for Riku, which should give everyone some pause for concern. Hopefully she will heal quickly, but I wouldn't be betting on them for the Olympics at this rate.

 

[LilJen]

So, MiuKih withdrew from the FS at Japanese Nats after Riku dislocated her shoulder during the SP warm-up yesterday.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2002582180778963341

Apparently, this is a recurring injury for Riku, which should give everyone some pause for concern. Hopefully she will heal quickly, but I wouldn't be betting on them for the Olympics at this rate.

Oh no!!! That is NOT good for a pairs skater. . .

 

[tangerine dream]

Oh no!!! That is NOT good for a pairs skater. . .

I'm having flashbacks of Kavaguti dislocating her shoulder during a program, popping it back in, and finishing the skate.

 

[mattiecat13]

I'm having flashbacks of Kavaguti dislocating her shoulder during a program, popping it back in, and finishing the skate.

I remember Stephanie Kalesavich doing the same thing. A blast from the past!

 

[Wyliefan]

Danilova/Tsiba get to go to the Olympics!

Michel Tsiba on Instagram: "YES! We mogen naar Milaan!!!! 🇮🇹 We zijn enorm vereerd en blij dat NOC*NSF ons de kans geeft om Nederland als eerste kunstrijpaar ooit te vertegenwoordigen op de Olympische Spelen in Milaan!!!!!! 🤩 Dit is een droom die

550 likes, 116 comments - micheltsiba on December 22, 2025: "YES! We mogen naar Milaan!!!! 🇮🇹 We zijn enorm vereerd en blij dat NOC*NSF ons de kans geeft om Nederland als eerste kunstrijpaar ooit te vertegenwoordigen op de Olympische Spelen in Milaan!!!!!! 🤩 Dit is een droom die werkelijkheid...

www.instagram.com

 

[Karen-W]

Challenge Cup/Dutch Nationals entries are out. Only one senior pairs team - Danilova/Tsiba.

That confirms that no exception from the ISU Council was given to Marco Zandron to compete in January representing Uzbekistan before his one year waiting period since last representing Spain expires, so definitely no Geynish/Zandron sliding in to represent UZB at the Olympics.

ETA - 12 junior pairs teams entered right now.

1 COHEN Debora Anna / VOCHOZKA Lukas CZE 1
2 MAPELLI Anita / QUESADA GRAU Noah ESP 2
3 MOUDDEN Ines / GARCIA Alejandro Lazaro ESP 2
4 EHRHARD Louise / PELLEGRIS Matthis FRA 3
5 LIGET-LATUS Clelia / FISHER Allan Daniel FRA 3
6 TELEMAQUE Romane / COULON Lucas FRA 3
7 SHENTON Isla / KIRBY Joel GBR 4
8 KREBS Sophie / TROFYMOV Ilia GER 5
9 GAUCH Laura / MAGER Linus SUI 6
10 JARMOC Sofia / WITKOWSKI Luke USA 7
11 MOSS Reagan / GALBAVY Jakub USA 7
12 OH Kaitlyn / CHAPA Michael USA 7
GARITI Giuliana / CURTIS Matthew USA 7 S
KAPLAN Gabrielle / GRIFFIN Carter USA 7 S
KOVAR Milada / MCPIKE Jared USA 7 S
MCDANOLD Addyson / FELBERBAUM Aaron USA 7 S
MEEK Juliet / MEEK Devin USA 7 S
TAICH Baylen / APTER Nikolai USA 7 S
WILLIAMS Naomi / LEWER Lachlan USA 7 S

 

[Sylvia]

Minerva Hase - The Art of Lightness - DAY BY DAY (Team Deutschland; Dec. 19, 2025): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH0ODKxvwvA
Oberstdorf, December 2025. When figure skater Minerva Hase glides across the ice with her partner Nikita Volodin, she captivates entire arenas. But what appears so effortless and magical in competition is the result of hard work in training. Nothing is taken for granted or done by magic; instead, it is shaped by countless repetitions and passionate discussions before that one big moment in the spotlight arrives. Production: Team D Studios. Director, Camera, Editing: Maurice Stach

ETA that I saw an X post that said "(Auto generated English sub available)" - does anyone know how to change the German subtitles to English?

 

[Sylvia]

The twist was interesting. I suppose they [Sui/Han] need that extra person there to help spot?

Copying over @tony's reply today in the Kiss & Cry section:

This is the norm for them now. I had mentioned in the first day of Cup of China practices (unofficial, not ISU-scheduled), they were also working with spotters.

Chinese Nationals results are being posted in GSD: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...pt-5-2023-onwards.110661/page-44#post-6857055

So far, 5 Pairs SP & 5 Rhythm Dance videos are uploaded at this account - Sui/Han scored 85.97 (47.07/38.90) in SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF0SJ5NT1m4
Fan comment: "they look a lot better than on the grand prix but this [throw] got +1.41 goe so I'd take it with a grain of salt"

https://x.com/twistandtwizzle/status/2004508775764623743

(these 4 pairs all competed on the JGP this season):
2nd in SP - Jiaxuan ZHANG/Yihang HUANG 72.35 (ETA) according to https://x.com/CGTNSportsScene/status/2004792939835498642 (JGPF silver; had a 40.96 TES displayed online before it disappeared)
3rd in SP - Rui GUO/Yiwen ZHANG 71.82 (JGPF gold; had a 42.18 TES displayed online before it disappeared)
Yuxuan CHEN/Yinbo DONG Pairs (JGPF, 5th)
Mujun HU/Zexuan WANG Pairs

Final standings today:

PAIRS FINAL
1. Sui/Han 237.57 (has Worlds Min)
2. Guo/Zhang 205.61
3. Zhang/Huang 200.10 (has Worlds Min)
4. Sun/Wang 170.23
5. Chen/Dong 168.16

 

[ice coverage]

Minerva Hase - The Art of Lightness - DAY BY DAY (Team Deutschland; Dec. 19, 2025): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH0ODKxvwvA ...

ETA that I saw an X post that said "(Auto generated English sub available)" - does anyone know how to change the German subtitles to English?

To change subtitles to English, the steps below worked on my computer. (I was not using a phone.)
Click on Settings "cogwheel" at lower right of YouTube screen. Menu will drop "up."
On menu, click on Subtitles (second choice from top).
On next menu, select Auto-translate. From Auto-translate menu, select English.

 

[BittyBug]

Apparently, this is a recurring injury for Riku, which should give everyone some pause for concern. Hopefully she will heal quickly, but I wouldn't be betting on them for the Olympics at this rate.

If she's having repeated dislocations, she's going to need surgery to fix it. So yeah, I'd say she looks tentative.

 

[kwanfan1818]

There was a lower-ranked Pairs skater who competed on a broken foot or ankle at one past Olympics. Shen landed jumps on a numbed foot at 2003 Worlds. I would expect, especially with two gold medals on the line that Miura will skate no matter how duct-taped and anesthetized she is. I don't know if the dislocated shoulder is the one he's gripping in the death spiral. If so, I wonder if they've been trying on the other arm/other direction.

 

[BittyBug]

Of course. I didn't mean that she was tentative to show but rather that her ability to deliver is tentative as her shoulder could give out at any time.

 

[Andrea82]

There was a lower-ranked Pairs skater who competed on a broken foot or ankle at one past Olympics.

I think the one with broken foot was Natalia Ponomareva of Natalia Ponomareva/Evgeni Sviridov at 2002 Olympics.

 

[tony]

I think the one with broken foot was Natalia Ponomareva of Natalia Ponomareva/Evgeni Sviridov at 2002 Olympics.

Yes, it was her. NBC happened to just be talking to them and they found out that way in a practice session, so they showed both of their programs on the live coverage.