2025 World Junior Championships Women's SP

[lariko]

Unfortunately, there's always going to be someone who gets screwed over by the age rule and cutoff date. For example, Sofia Muravieva was born in the second half of 2006, meaning she just missed out on the 2022 Olympics, and now she'll probably never get another chance. Even if they made the senior age 16 instead of 17, you'd still have talented skaters missing out

^^This. I mean, Jia Shin probably missed out more, since it's hard to say if she would be ready to slay in seniors in that one and only year she has there without Shimada. It is a terrible age for women to be making a major transition, but it eventually will produce longer second half of the career. I dunno if Shimada will be the first one to take a year off to prep for seniors or if she would fight for that 1 spot in GP via junior title.

They will all eventually turn 18 and be eligible. There is no avoiding it.

 

[Ziotic]

It's so crazy that she's unable to join seniors. Metelkina/Berulava and past skaters like Sui/Han (who won Junior Worlds 3 times, including a senior GPF bronze the 2nd year they won Junior Worlds, and Four Continents title before winning it a 3rd time) are slaying in seniors and yet still allowed to compete at Junior Worlds.. but it's nonsensical that it doesn't go the other way around.

IMO, the winner (or top 2) of Junior Worlds should be given an optional berth at Senior worlds in every discipline.

I think we all know how we got to the age cut off.

I think having a minor test positive for drugs is a pretty clear indicator of not letting children compete seniors.

 

[lariko]

Gosh, other 2 girls were low-balled like crazy though. But, I guess, a girl just doesn't show up at JWC with zero competitions in JGP . I hope they swap out that SA judge for the free. He has obvious ethnic bias.

 

[GGFan]

I don't watch juniors that much, but I did catch Mao's performance and was very impressed. Loved the joy and speed during the step sequence. I do think she's more Glinda than Elphaba in that program though.

I have no problem with the age rules whatsoever. No sport should be a one quad only sport. Gymnastics has figured out a way for grown women to compete and so should figure skating. If the jump technique and the training are not up to par that needs to change. Stop starving children so they can jump and instead let them build muscles after puberty. Amber's 3A is impressive and stable. That's the kind of athletic feat I want to see in figure skating: not abused children rotating really fast in the air and retiring a year later.

All of that to say that if Mao loves skating and she trains wisely (and has some luck of course) the 2030 Olympics will be right there for her. There is no travesty in missing an Olympics at 16 or 17.

 

[lariko]

Gurgenidze is really selling that creepy or femme fatal vibe. I want to see her in some sort of yandere program heh. Was quite a contrast with Gladki bringing on princess right after. Cool beans.

 

[4everchan]

She was always great, they just didn't get her programs. Anyway, the phantom of the free skate is there, but I am looking forward to catching up before it spoils things. Sucks that Von Felten had problems tho.

She was better than what I have seen her do before. She's always had big jumps and such energy but there was a polish that wasn't there before... just my perception of course.

 

[readernick]

She was better than what I have seen her do before. She's always had big jumps and such energy but there was a polish that wasn't there before... just my perception of course.

Agreed. In the past, even the big jumps were quite messy. However, in this SP she looked polished.

 

[lariko]

Well, fingers crossed for her, Titova, Kalugina, Shifrin, Gladki, Brandenburg, Djumaniyazova, and Godina to be at their best in the free and show what they can do.

 

[lileychristie]

Finally caught up!

Inga, that was the best I've seen her skate. The free is going to be very interesting!

Elyce, wow she managed to add much more height to her jumps, I didn't recall her jumps being that big before. Good on her, especially as Tammy's skaters tend to underrotate.

Kaoruko, I think the TP was harsh on her as she skated in the earlier group.... that flip looked at most q to me. And her SS is so underscored, just like Rino I hope she can nail it in the free and get on the podium.

Ami, she really needs to fix that double axel. Even if her 3A is stable enough to do in the SP next season in senior, it's advantageous to have +2A+2A sequence in the free and she wants a good 2A for that. But great performance otherwise, she's ready for senior

Jia.... Tbh I'm glad she decided to stick longer with Orser. Change & adjustment takes time, but I think it'll be for the better in the long run. For me what really holding her back is her programs. They always feel generic to me, and especially this SP being Yuna-ripoff is not a good look, only draws comparison and not letting Jia as a unique person shines. Such a shame as she has the SS and she can definitely perform a more unique program. I hope she'll get better programs for her senior debut season.

Mao, what else needs to be said really To me her program is top-notch exemplary - fresh, well-choreographed, memorable and she truly had fun performing it. All her past programs are unique and memorable as well. I think it helps made the judges give her higher PCS.

 

[Skater Boy]

Gosh, other 2 girls were low-balled like crazy though. But, I guess, a girl just doesn't show up at JWC with zero competitions in JGP . I hope they swap out that SA judge for the free. He has obvious ethnic bias.

SA judge? Acronyms are so dangerous. SA means many things sexual assault, Skate America, South America ??? I am sure to other there are many meanings.

 

[lariko]

SA judge? Acronyms are so dangerous. SA means many things sexual assault, Skate America, South America ??? I am sure to other there are many meanings.

Judge 9, South Africa, aka Mr. Below-5PCS-Unless-Asian. Seems he was affected by just judging 4CC or something.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I think we all know how we got to the age cut off.

I think having a minor test positive for drugs is a pretty clear indicator of not letting children compete seniors.

I thought the age cut off was because of consideration for junior skaters not trying ultra-C when they could get hurt. (Real tea though - I don't think the ISU wants technically prodigious juniors beating seniors with less impressive content).

I mean, there are plenty of juniors/minors who aren't testing for drugs regardless of the rules.

I'm sure certain coaches/countries aren't going to let rules/sanctions/or even getting caught stop them from doing what they do - regardless of whether it's novice or seniors. Unfortunately, some do whatever it takes to try to win.

 

[lariko]

There are also methods that are at least as damaging as heart medications that can't be picked up by the drug tests, such as laxatives and undernourishment. These methods are likely to be applied on women just as they move to seniors to preserve the level of performance with current age cut off under guise of women being naturally thin/having different body structure. Only full medical can determine if overuse of either is damaging internal organs.