Uploaded today on Ice Skating International Online's YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdA9_LSuGqA
Copying out the ISU's Press Conference highlights document:
PRESS CONFERENCE
Junior Ice Dance, after Free Dance
Hana Maria Aboian/Daniil Veselukhin (USA), ISU Junior World Champions 2026
Aboian: So I feel very proud of our performances. As I mentioned yesterday, we delivered exactly what we wanted
and I'm proud that we were able to do what we have been working on since the [JGP] Final and since nationals. So in
general, like I said, very proud; I'm very happy with our results. (on the secret of their success) I think that this was all
achieved thanks to our coaches and the time we have at the rink [in Newington, Connecticut]. We have a lot of ice
time available so we utilize that to the maximum that we possibly can. We really have a focus on training to make sure
that every day is another step up and that we just continue growing from one competition to another. Because while
we are still juniors we can develop every program, we can just develop ourselves to prepare us for the senior stage. I
think the key to our success is a good support system. (on next season's plans and what you can improve) So for next
season, like I said, our goal is senior, so we want to make sure that we progress. We are working on some new
concepts that will be a completely different approach, so we're excited to explore different ideas, different concepts,
and to just keep building our repertoire. (on their opinions about the top 2 ice dance teams' results at the Olympics) I
had the great opportunity to see Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence [Fournier Beaudry] and Madi [Chock] and Evan
[Bates] perform in Milan for the team event. Both performances, or all four performances, were each spectacular in
every aspect. I think the Olympics is everyone's lifelong dream, at least it is for me, and it's truly beautiful when you're
able to perform to the best of your ability anywhere, and the fact that we got to see Madi and Evan and Laurence and
Guillaume skate the way they did, it was just so inspiring. I'm just really astounded by the ability of their skating
because I look up to them a lot.
Veselukhin: I'm also really happy and really excited about all of what we've done, how far we've come in these two
seasons. Nobody could have even imagined that two years later we're going to be world junior champions and it feels
truly amazing. I still can't really process these feelings and am really happy and proud of our work throughout the
season. (on the secret of their success) Yeah, I completely agree with Hanna. I think for us, our key factor is just trying
to work together every day. It's another day and you're still trying to go higher and higher. You're pushing yourself to
your limits. I'm really grateful to our coaches, to the rink and everyone who truly supports us in this season, just overall
in our journey. And it really truly means a lot to me, and I think to Hanna too, that we have so much support around us
and truly help us on this path. (on next season's plans and what can you improve) For us it's more about never being
about medals, it'll be about our growth in juniors. As we're still growing and we're still trying to achieve more, medals
don't matter as much as our growth together as a couple and just trying to push ourselves. Next season is going to be
a new season and it's going to be a new beginning. Once again, we will try to achieve some new goals and just go
higher and higher. (on their opinions about the top 2 ice dance teams' results at the Olympics) I think the Olympics
were great, and it was truly a mesmerizing event, and that happened because you can actually see the battle in
couples. It was entertaining to watch, and I think you can't really say that one was better or another one was better,
because I think everyone did great. It's the Olympics. Everyone was preparing for the Olympics, and it's like every
couple there is doing their best. It was really nice to see the couples and just watch and enjoy, and know
that - potentially in four years - you're going to be there.
Ambre Perrier Gianesini/Samuel Blanc Klaperman (USA), ISU Junior World silver medalists 2026
Perrier Gianesini: I'm speaking mainly for everyone, but we're all reaching the goal here. I mean, it was maybe not the
best performance we could give, but it was an opportunity to be here and I'm really proud of myself and ourselves that
we made the second place - it's a big achievement. Even if I wanted the gold, I mean, Sometimes we have to maybe
take some steps back and we think about this. Today - you guys were the best, and I'm happy for you. (on French ice
dance teams winning silver at Junior Worlds historically having even better success at the senior level, such as
Peizerat, Delobel/Schoenfelder, Papadakis/Cizeron) So yeah, you're joining me in a very special club today - we
follow the lead of the best ones! He [Samuel] was like, it's not the end of the world. Come on, you're still, like, silver
medalists, so it's not like you were finishing tenth, like, last year. I mean, yeah, to be in this group of people now who
win a medal and [are] friends. Even if it was not what we were, like, hoping for. I mean, it's really good because we
can just put our step on the step that people did this before. I cannot say it in English. I have it in French, but, you
know, so it's, yeah, it's really nice. (on next season's plans) The plan [pattern] of the Westminster Waltz [pattern for
Junior Rhythm Dance next season] is a good one but the Golden one [Waltz] looks difficult! We don't know, we need
to really discuss about the plan. (on their opinions about the top 2 ice dance teams' results at the Olympics) I would
say that first I was watching both of the programs and I was in love with both. I think that both teams are like incredible
skaters so I mean, as my opinion, I think our opinion is not maybe the best one so the judges made the decision and I
think it's how it was made on this point. Like I don't know... I'm gonna say that for me both were so good and if it was
just like my opinion they [Fournier Beaudry/Cizeron & Chock/Bates] would win two golds so I cannot really say, I'm just
a big fan of them and when I'm trying to skate, I'm like, 'okay try to skate like them' so it's really good example for us.
Blanc Klaperman: (on the fact that French junior teams historically have won Junior World silver before achieving
higher success at the Senior level) Well, that's true, anyway, the French teams, which made it to the Junior podium
were amazing after - in senior, so it's already something, I think, speaking on my own I can be very disappointed with
what we did , but you do almost win - probably in the future we'll look upward and take it as a good experience.
(on next season's plans) We'll have to discuss seriously with our coaches. (on their opinions about the top 2 ice dance
teams' results at the Olympics) Well I will speak 'cause I am not totally agree [with Ambre]. I agree that both teams are
very good teams which I am inspired by. But, well, I don't know if that's diplomatic to say, but I think there are good
teams and there are great teams and Guillaume [Cizeron] and his partners and [now with] Laurence are just great and
greatness is not good.
Iryna Pidgaina/Artem Koval (UKR), SU Junior World bronze medalists 2026
Koval: I can say that, of course, we are happy about our performance because we did everything we could to prepare,
and it was really hard way to be here, to skate here in front of the crowd. We are so happy about this medal because
we repeat what our choreographers [Ukraine's Oleksandra Nazarova and Maksym Nikitin won the bronze in Tallinn]
did in 2015, in the same place, and we are so happy about this. (on next season's plans for their Senior debut) For us,
we already know that, I think after a few weeks or one month, we already do the new programs. So we already
prepare for the senior [level], we have some ideas already. We still don't have music, but we have idea, it's the main
one, so I mean, and of course I'm going to say before that the Golden Waltz, it will be so funny, because ... I saw
some steps ... it's so hard!
Pidgaina: So the way here at all of this season was hard as I said and it's still a little bit hard for me to talk about it
because we went through kind of hell because we were fighting not for the medals we were fighting for life
[Note:
refer to their mixed zone quotes link above for more info.]
I am really proud of everything that we did. I still cannot believe that we could just achieve it because at some point I thought we
will just either finish the skating [career] or just skip the season. I think today and yesterday we did our best. I'm really
proud of you - we all did a good job and congratulations to everyone! (on the Golden Waltz being the pattern dance in
their Senior debut next season) Yeah, before Junior Worlds, I already tried a few steps on my own, and it's a pretty
tough but funny dance, so we'll see how it all goes. But the good thing is that we don't have key points, so it's just a
horror (hard) element, so yeah, that's why Seniors is better. [Golden Waltz is] a really pretty fast tempo. It is also into
these 3-turns. I'm so excited, yeah. I think our coach is more excited at this point because I think she's already
prepared some exercises for us.