The 2020 World Figure Skating Championships were scheduled to take place, in Montréal, Canada, March 16-22.
The Championships have been cancelled due to COVID-19.
The action gets underway at 10:30 a.m. Wed., March 18 with the pairs short program, followed by the ladies short at 3:45 p.m.
There are currently 127 skaters/teams on the rosters for the four disciplines: 33 men, 36 ladies, 24 pairs and 34 ice dance teams.
Nathan Chen heads into this competition as the only undefeated champion this season, with skaters and teams in the other three disciplines having won and lost competitions through 2019 and early 2020. A new champion will be crowned in the ladies event. Many expect the battle for gold will be between the two young Russians, Alena Kostornaia and Anna Shcherbakova, but we are not counting out Japan′s Rika who has the potential to be the spoiler.
China′s Han Yan was scheduled to compete in Montréal, but his supporters (Han Yan Fan Van) posted a note to Twitter on Feb. 16, stating that due to 2019-nCoV control policy in Beijing, Yan was asked to self-quarantine at home for 14 days upon his return from Four Continents, and has been unable to train. Boyang Jin and Wenjing Sui and Cong Han went directly to Canada from Four Continents.
Australia will have no team in the pairs event. Harley Windsor announced on Feb. 26 that he and Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya — with whom he won the 2017 World Junior title — have parted ways. Windsor plans to continue his career and is looking for a new partner. Alexa Knierim and Chris Knierim were scheduled to represent the U.S. in Montréal, but Chris announced he was retiring for health reasons. Alexa is now looking for a new partner. Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson have been assigned in their place.
The North Korean pairs team of Tae Ok Ryom and Ju Sik Kim is also absent from the roster. The world has not seen this duo since 2019 Cup of China in early November. Their presence will also be missed at this competition.
Skate Canada announced on March 6 that ice dancers Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sørensen have withdrawn from the World Championships. Sørensen had knee surgery in late 2019 and was unable to return to the ice until late February.
Elvis Stojko and Anouk Meunier, a popular Québec television personality, will co-host the inaugural ISU Skating Awards show, which will take place Sun., March 22 at 4:30 p.m.
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