2026 Junior Worlds: General Info and Pregame Chat

[NoNameFace]

I see Ladies SP will be a marathon

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Of course, no need for the long example but I know you are attached to Cyprus skaters, no idea why though

Come on, you know me. When I tell a story, I have to tell it in full. Because I am useless at deciding what can be left out. I am scared of leaving out something that turns out to be significant.

That is why I was never able to get to the end of exams in the allocated time at school. Or keep to word limits when writing essays at school or uni.

But there are tons of examples where it's fine... even in bigger feds, to have junior eligible skates have a period where they do both. The overlap is designed that way so strong juniors can also experience senior events.

And I fully agree that there should be an overlap, for those very reasons. I just feel that the current overlap is too big. Two years would be sufficient.

There are tons of examples, like Adam Hagara too. The point I am making has nothing to do with crossing over until the senior career is secured. Jacob Sanchez even won a challenger but truly, he is not competitive in his own country yet to be selected for senior championships, so I will be pleased to see him at JWC. Really, the only team I have seen milking the system, earning top prize money which means less funding for junior teams, and blocking access to a senior transition (junior world medallists may get a GP invite) to other teams have been mentioned ad nauseam in this thread. So, at some point, there will be an ISU rule (or not) to prevent that and it will have a name... like other specific rules that went against milking the system.

It seems like forever that Hagara and Metelkina (with a couple of partners) have been doing both Juniors and Seniors. A couple of years doing both levels in undoubtedly benficial to the skaters in gaining experience. But four or five years doing both is not good for anybody, be it the skaters themselves, the other competitors, or the image of the sport.

It's too bad that the ISU makes rules and doesn't have the vision to eliminate the gray areas first.

That's the ISU for you. They have this vision of how things will work in theory, but don't have the foresight to realise how the way they write the rules will probably lead to them being interpreted in practice a totally different way than intended.

The way these decade themes in Ice Dance have turned out are another perfect example of that. And going back even further, so is the allowing of music with vocals.

But the ISU are so afraid of losing face that they would rather just tinker around the edges than admit that they were wrong and properly tackle the problems they have inadvertantly created themselves.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I see Ladies SP will be a marathon

Are you planning to go to either Junior or Senior Worlds?

I hope you get to Senior Worlds at least, now that we know Piper and Paul will be there.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[NoNameFace]

Are you planning to go to either Junior or Senior Worlds?

I hope you get to Senior Worlds at least, now that we know Piper and Paul will be there.

CaroLiza_fan

Actually...I plan to be in person both in Tallinn and in Prague. Plus one synchro event in between.
Prague was planned last year, with small hope P² will come. Tallinn is for my standards very last minute, but I haven't seen all juniors I wanted this season yet and it's fairly close, so I've decided to not let my doubts win (even if I make just few crowns).

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Actually...I plan to be in person both in Tallinn and in Prague. Plus one synchro event in between.
Prague was planned last year, with small hope P² will come. Tallinn is for my standards very last minute, but I haven't seen all juniors I wanted this season yet and it's fairly close, so I've decided to not let my doubts win (even if I make just few crowns).

Delighted to hear that you will be at both. You deserve to be able to escape from real life and spend the time experiencing something you love!

And although they are beautiful, don't feel pressured to make a lot of crowns. At the end of the day, what is more important is you taking a break and enjoying yourself.

And I hope you thoroughly enjoy yourself!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[AlexRus]

In order of Season Best, * - Personal Best if no Season Best, ** - unofficial best if no official

Junior Men
NO NAME NATION SCORE
1 Minkyu SEO KOR 255.91
2 Rio NAKATA JPN 249.70
3 Jacob SANCHEZ USA 240.25
4 Taiga NISHINO JPN 233.50
5 Habin CHOI KOR 232.19
6 Jaekeun LEE KOR 226.53
7 Lucius KAZANECKI USA 225.85
8 Denis KROUGLOV BEL 225.60
9 Genrikh GARTUNG GER 219.14
10 Yu-Hsiang LI TPE 216.98
11 Daiya EBIHARA JPN 211.98
12 Yanhao LI NZL 210.29
13 Lukas VACLAVIK SVK 203.31
14 Yehor KURTSEV UKR 202.14
15 Ean WEILER SUI 200.90
16 Qihan ZHAO CHN 194.62
17 Matias LINDFORS FIN 194.14
18 Artur SMAGULOV KAZ 192.81
19 Jiarui LI HKG 192.63
20 Nikita SHEIKO ISR 189.77
21 Matvii YEFYMENKO POL 188.02
22 Furkan Emre INCEL TUR 186.42
23 Luka IMEDASHVILI LTU 184.86
24 Hiro KAEWTATHIP THA 182.70
25 Tadeas VACLAVIK CZE 177.15 Substitute
26 Daniil VALANOV NOR 174.77
27 Janis ZNOTINS LAT 172.91
28 Julio POTAPENKO AUS 171.61
29 Maksym PETRYCHENKO AUT 169.54
30 Konstantin SUPATASHVILI GEO 169.13
31 David BONDAR CAN 168.78 Substitute
32 Leon ROJKOV GER 168.27
33 Vladislav CHURAKOV EST 167.73
34 Jean MEDARD FRA 167.68
35 Andre ZAPATA ESP 165.36
36 Albin SAMUELSSON SWE 160.75
37 Matteo MARCHIONI ITA 160.57
38 Dmitry RUDENKO SVK 156.22
39 Mikayel SALAZARYAN ARM 155.78
40 Deyan MIHAYLOV BUL 154.83
41 Ilya NESTEROV EST 151.59
42 Arin YORKE GBR 137.15*
43 Aleksei VLASENKO HUN 134.09
WD Grayson LONG CAN 221.71
WD Jakub TYKAL CZE 159.11

Junior Women
NO NAME NATION SCORE
1 Mao SHIMADA JPN 218.13
2 Mayuko OKA JPN 199.17
3 Yuseong KIM KOR 198.66
4 Mei OKADA JPN 195.82
5 Yihan WANG CHN 194.71
6 Hana BATH AUS 192.72
7 Alica LENGYELOVA SVK 191.53
8 Sophie Joline VON FELTEN USA 190.67
9 Jiyu HUH KOR 186.55
10 Sophia SHIFRIN ISR 181.90
11 Leandra TZIMPOUKAKIS SUI 176.34
12 Maria Eliise KALJUVERE EST 175.23
13 Stefania GLADKI FRA 173.74
14 Elina GOIDINA EST 172.74
15 Valeriya EZHOVA SUI 171.59
16 Angela SHAO USA 170.68
17 Inga GURGENIDZE GEO 168.23
18 Anna GERKE GER 167.44
19 Lilou REMEYSEN BEL 162.36
20 Kira BARANOVSKA LAT 161.95
21 Amanda GHEZZO ITA 160.52
22 Venla SINISALO FIN 158.28
23 Angel DELEVAQUE NED 157.27
24 Megan WOODLEY CAN 156.88*
25 Jana HORCICKOVA CZE 153.72
26 Milana SINIAVSKYTE LTU 151.59
27 Leyla CETIN TUR 150.79
28 Weronika FERLIN POL 150.76
29 Yu-Feng TSAI TPE 150.27
30 Hannah FRANK AUT 149.44
31 Alice SMITH GBR 148.58
32 Polina DZSUMANYIJAZOVA HUN 147.04
33 Ariel GUO HKG 144.31
34 Ula ZADNIKAR SLO 143.66
35 Izabella ESAIAN ARM 142.44
36 Vasilisa BOGOMOLOVA CYP 138.42
37 Sofiia RYMSHYNA UKR 138.27
38 Zhasmin SHLAGA KGZ 136.25
39 Phattaratida KANESHIGE THA 133.94
40 Karina SHEINA KAZ 132.93
41 Sienna KACZMARCZYK AUS 132.63
42 Paula KASNAR CRO 128.78
43 Nora COPPENS SWE 128.53
44 Renee TSAI NZL 127.86
45 Ariadna GUPTA ESPADA ESP 125.75
46 Ketevan MAKHARADZE GEO 120.67
47 Krista GEORGIEVA BUL 118.67
48 Ekaterina BALAGANSKAIA SRB 116.58
49 Pernille WITH NOR 115.20
50 Milana MOZEIKO FRA 106.07 Substitute
51 Camilla Vinther POULSEN DEN 105.46
WD Arina KALUGINA AZE 167.78
WD Eve DUBECQ FRA 145.89
WD Marie BIERWERT UAE 139.54

Junior Pairs
NO NAME NATION SCORE
1 Ava KEMP / Yohnatan ELIZAROV CAN 179.43
2 Rui GUO / Yiwen ZHANG CHN 177.05
3 Jazmine DESROCHERS / Kieran THRASHER CAN 162.90
4 Olivia FLORES / Luke WANG USA 161.44
5 Hannah HERRERA / Ivan KHOBTA UKR 158.61**
6 Yuxuan CHEN / Yinbo DONG CHN 153.02
7 Anita MAPELLI / Noah QUESADA GRAU ESP 150.79** Substitute
8 Julia QUATTROCCHI / Etienne LACASSE CAN 150.45
9 Reagan MOSS / Jakub GALBAVY USA 146.74
10 Louise EHRHARD / Matthis PELLEGRIS FRA 143.14
11 Romane TELEMAQUE / Lucas COULON FRA 135.02
12 Irina NAPOLITANO / Edoardo COMI ITA 133.27
13 Lily WILBERFORCE / Mozes Jozsef BEREI HUN 132.57
14 Laura GAUCH / Linus MAGER SUI 131.16** New
15 Neamh DAVISON / Daniel BORISOV GBR 130.42
16 Polina POLMAN / Gabriel RENOLDI ITA 128.05
17 Laura HECKOVA / Alex VALKY SVK 127.18
18 Johanka ZILKOVA / Matyas Rafael BECERRA CZE 116.21
WD Megan YUDIN / Patrizio Romano ROSSI LOPEZ ESP 134.04

Junior Dance
NO NAME NATION SCORE
1 Hana Maria ABOIAN / Daniil VESELUKHIN USA 167.11
2 Iryna PIDGAINA / Artem KOVAL UKR 164.13
3 Ambre PERRIER GIANESINI / Samuel BLANC KLAPERMAN FRA 162.21
4 Layla VEILLON / Alexander BRANDYS CAN 161.83
5 Dania MOUADEN / Theo BIGOT FRA 160.13
6 Jasmine ROBERTSON / Chase ROHNER USA 156.52
7 Zoe BIANCHI / Daniel BASILE ITA 149.64
8 Arianna SOLDATI / Nicholas TAGLIABUE ITA 144.18
9 Summer HOMICK / Nicholas BUELOW CAN 143.56
10 Alexia KRUK / Jan EISENHABER GER 141.36
11 Michelle DEYCH / Ryan HU USA 137.47
12 Diane SZNAJDER / Jachym NOVAK CZE 137.10
13 Anita STRAUB / Andreas STRAUB AUT 136.11
14 Seraina TSCHARNER / Laurin WIEDERKEHR SUI 134.00
15 Julia EPPS / Blake GILMAN ISR 132.90**
16 Shanjie YIN / Shirui YANG CHN 132.35
17 Silvia LUTAY / Konstantin TKACHENKO BUL 130.08**
18 Eniko KOBOR / Zoard KOBOR GER 129.59
19 Mimi MARLER DAVIES / Joseph BLACK GBR 127.75
20 Yuxuan XING / Han Wan CHAU HKG 126.92
21 Tetiana BIELODONOVA / Ivan KACHUR UKR 126.51
22 Kaho YAMASHITA / Yuto NAGATA JPN 122.62
23 Lara SUNDBERG / Hector GONZALEZ ELVIRA ESP 120.10
24 Ksenia SIPUNOVA / Miron KORJAGIN EST 115.84
25 Charlotte CHUNG / Axel MACKENZIE SWE 114.91
26 Lucia STEFANOVOVA / Jacopo BOERIS SVK 112.89
27 Laura BALCERSKA / David DIADCHENKO POL 109.34
28 Eva ROZHNOVA / Platon ZUBKOV FIN 108.40
29 Anna OBRIEN / Drake TONG AZE 103.76
30 Villo Mira SZILAGYI / Istvan JARACS HUN 102.34

 

[pesto]

Even a rule as simple as, you can only enter the World Championships in one age category: junior or senior, would have prevented the controversy.

 

[4everchan]

Even a rule as simple as, you can only enter the World Championships in one age category: junior or senior, would have prevented the controversy.

Yes but for some smaller nations, this rule is seen as a problem as they only have one skater with minimums for both. Should they be denied ? That would mean a loss of spots for JGP and following worlds. I am okay with someone like Adam Hagara doing double duties as he is a strong junior developing into seniors, but he is not an established senior skater yet.

I think that's my issue : what is an established senior skater. That's where I draw the line.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Of course, no need for the long example but I know you are attached to Cyprus skaters, no idea why though

But there are tons of examples where it's fine... even in bigger feds, to have junior eligible skates have a period where they do both. The overlap is designed that way so strong juniors can also experience senior events.

We have a team in Canada right now, very promising, they did 4CC... It was tough for them but a very good experience. They will be at Junior worlds. But all season, they skated on the JGP circuit. They are in a development phase.

There are tons of examples, like Adam Hagara too. The point I am making has nothing to do with crossing over until the senior career is secured. Jacob Sanchez even won a challenger but truly, he is not competitive in his own country yet to be selected for senior championships, so I will be pleased to see him at JWC. Really, the only team I have seen milking the system, earning top prize money which means less funding for junior teams, and blocking access to a senior transition (junior world medallists may get a GP invite) to other teams have been mentioned ad nauseam in this thread. So, at some point, there will be an ISU rule (or not) to prevent that and it will have a name... like other specific rules that went against milking the system.

IIt's too bac that the ISU makes rules and doesn't have the vision to eliminate the gray areas first.

Some countries have rules I approve of for the reasons stated. I love it that Japan lets talented Novices skate in Jr nats and talented Jrs skate at Senior nats. Sure Mao cant go to the last olys or international SR. comps, but the experience of skating at Sr. Nats is great for them. Now, she is ready for the next season. I just worry about her as she takes this sport all too seriously in a mental way. Sports should be fun for kids...and as Norway has proven, it can be fun and great mentally and physically and emotionally.

 

[ladyjane]

Yes but for some smaller nations, this rule is seen as a problem as they only have one skater with minimums for both. Should they be denied ? That would mean a loss of spots for JGP and following worlds. I am okay with someone like Adam Hagara doing double duties as he is a strong junior developing into seniors, but he is not an established senior skater yet.

I think that's my issue : what is an established senior skater. That's where I draw the line.

The same for me. I have no problem with Adam either. He's the only up and coming skater from Slovakia, they have no other to represent the country. I am just happy for Slovakia they have someone with promise.

I also agree with the established senior skater bit, but where does one draw the line exactly? Top 10 at World's? I don't know. Finding cut off points is the difficult part.

 

[saine]

On the Skate Canada international assignments page, David Bondar has replaced Grayson Long in men. This hasn't been updated on the ISU entries yet.

 

[CoyoteChris]

If you remember this Jr. Skate, man are you old!
Ted Barton. "Somewhere behind those hands are tears of joy"
2016, Kaori Breaks her own PB and leads a Japan sweep at the JGP Yokahama

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[CoyoteChris]

I see Ladies SP will be a marathon

I watched 53 lady skaters at Worlds 2009 LA, Including Yuna Kim, Mao Asada, Miki Ando, Fumie Suguri, Alissa Czisny, Caro Kostner, etc
It about killed me. That and 30 compulsary dances. Including Evan Bates.
7 hours of ladies short programs....

 

[Ivana]

With regards the Lengyelová sisters, I wouldn't be quite so sure that it is set in stone yet that Alica is the one that is going to Tallinn.

Yes, Alica won a Junior GP. But, with Slovak Junior Nationals not being held until the week AFTER Junior Worlds ( ), the Slovak Fed has been doing like the Lithuanian Fed did with their Senior girls, and has sent both sisters to a series of competitions for head-to-heads over the past few months. And Olivia has beaten Alica in all of them.

No doubt about it, Alica had the upper hand in the early part of the season. But since then, Olivia has eclipsed her.

With this in mind, I was surprised when the entries for Junior Worlds came out and Alica had the slot while Olivia was the alternate.

They are both in Tallinn this week for the Haabersti Cup (which is held at a different arena to where Junior Worlds are being held).

The Junior Ladies SP starts at 13:35:00 EET (11:35:00 GMT / 12:35:00 CET). So 6 hours from now.

Olivia will be the 2nd skater to start, while Alica will be the 24th skater to start.

It'll be interesting to see what happens.

CaroLiza_fan

Just to follow up my comment about the Lengyelová sisters.

As it turned out, Alica didn't compete at the Haabersti Cup. Olivia was 7th in the SP, 2nd in the FS, and 2nd overall.

For those that are wondering, Sofia NEKRASSOVA (EST) won both segments, and took the overall title by 7.19 points. Sofia is Estonia's first alternate for Junior Worlds.

It take it Alica's withdrawal means that the Slovak Fed are going ahead according to the original plan, and that she was being rested as preparation for Junior Worlds.

They really were caught between a rock and a hard place. Go with the younger sister that earlier this season had the biggest international result for Slovakia in years, but isn't in the same form now. Or go with the older sister who had a slow start to the season, but is the skater in form now.

It's a hard choice to make. And I'm not convinced they have made the right choice. But, we shall see.

Olivia has been sent to Junior Worlds for the past two seasons, but hasn't got through to the Free Skate. She also becomes Senior eligible next season. With her being the sister currently in better form, I'd have been inclined to give Olivia one final shot this season, and then give Alica preference from next season onwards.

Regardless of my opinion on the selection, I wish Alica all the best.

CaroLiza_fan

I was not following this thread, but just have to react on your comments on the Slovak JWC nomination... There were nomination criteria set at the begining of season (as for every other Championships, JGP or 4 Nationals). To get to JWC you have to fulfill the ISU minimum by 1.2.2026 and meet the technical requirements 2A + 3 different triples, 1 L4 pirouette, rest L3 and at least L3 step sequence, if there are multiple athletes who meet the criteria it comes to 3 results from qualifying competitions, 1x JGP (if an athlete has been to multiple, better result counts), Sofia Trophy and Bavarian Open, Bavarian Open was later changed to Merano Ice Trophy as only the Lengyelova sisters were in running. In the end Alica won over Olivia by a nearly 30 points margin and after Merano Ice Trophy the nomination was not going to change unless there was an injury.

Regarding Slovak Nationals, this is the final competition for skaters taking part in Slovak Cup competitions, the last qualifying one is this weekend, the Lengyelova sisters do not take part in those competitions, but are allowed to take part in the nationals as they are on the A team, they have to request this 3 weeks in advance though.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I was not following this thread, but just have to react on your comments on the Slovak JWC nomination... There were nomination criteria set at the begining of season (as for every other Championships, JGP or 4 Nationals). To get to JWC you have to fulfill the ISU minimum by 1.2.2026 and meet the technical requirements 2A + 3 different triples, 1 L4 pirouette, rest L3 and at least L3 step sequence, if there are multiple athletes who meet the criteria it comes to 3 results from qualifying competitions, 1x JGP (if an athlete has been to multiple, better result counts), Sofia Trophy and Bavarian Open, Bavarian Open was later changed to Merano Ice Trophy as only the Lengyelova sisters were in running. In the end Alica won over Olivia by a nearly 30 points margin and after Merano Ice Trophy the nomination was not going to change unless there was an injury.

Regarding Slovak Nationals, this is the final competition for skaters taking part in Slovak Cup competitions, the last qualifying one is this weekend, the Lengyelova sisters do not take part in those competitions, but are allowed to take part in the nationals as they are on the A team, they have to request this 3 weeks in advance though.

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation of the requirements. So they have been assessing them for a lot longer than I thought, and taking a lot more things into consideration than I thought.

Well, it makes a lot more sense now why the selection went the way it did.

That's all I needed - something that made me understand why they went for Alica over Olivia. And you have done that perfectly.

Oh, I hope Alica does well.

Thank you again.



CaroLiza_fan

 

[lariko]

The same for me. I have no problem with Adam either. He's the only up and coming skater from Slovakia, they have no other to represent the country. I am just happy for Slovakia they have someone with promise.

(cough) Lucas Vaclavik.

And what about that small skating country of Japan? Poor guys there couldn't find a junior male skater one year save for the 4CC champion Kao Miura. Awful shortage they have of male skaters in Japan, I tell ya.

 

[ladyjane]

Sorry. I don't know Lucas Vaclavik. Never seen him skate.

 

[FlossieH]

Sorry. I don't know Lucas Vaclavik. Never seen him skate.

Lukas Vaclavik was in last season's JGP final? Qualified ahead of Adam Hagara, who I think was the first reserve.

 

[Ivana]

Sorry. I don't know Lucas Vaclavik. Never seen him skate.

Lukas is a wonderful skater, but a bit of a headcase. He will age out of juniors this year so if he is healthy, he has been struggling with ankle injury half of the season, the two places at Europeans will come in handy.

With our federation betting everything on Adam, Lukas did not get nearly as much exposure as he would deserve IMO, he went to JWC last year and had a great showing at JGP last year as well making it to JGP finals as FlossieH mentioned, albeit finishing last as his skates broke. I'm really looking forward to see him skate in Talinn, hopefully he is fully healed.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Vasilisa started the season on her own. But she then got injured shortly after making her Junior GP debut. I don't know what happened, but her foot was in a cast. And she has been out of action ever since.

Olivia isn't old enough yet, so they have had to bring the revelation of the Olympic Qualifying Event, Stefania Yakovleva, back into Juniors as a backup in case Vasilisa is not able to do Junior Worlds.

From what I know of Stefania, I am 100% sure she had no intention of going back to Juniors. Especially after such a strong debut Senior season. But, circumstances have arisen which mean that she may have to, so as to ensure Cyprus gets enough Junior GP slots to enable both Vasilisa and Olivia to compete in two Junior GP's next season.

Stefania is entered for the Bellu Memorial in Romania this week. If she does not turn up for the SP on Friday, that may be a strong indication that she will be in Estonia next week.

The Start Orders for tomorrow's competitions at the Bellu Memorial are now up, and Stefania is no longer amongst the entries for Senior Ladies.



I have a feeling that this means we should keeping an eye out for changes to the Junior Worlds entries...

CaroLiza_fan