Ashley Wagner and Gracie Gold highlight U.S. Figure Skating Championships
U.S. skater Gracie Gold competes in the ISU Grand Prix in Barcelona, Spain, on Dec. 11.
While the Olympic focus has shifted to the upcoming 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, it’s still winter and this week brings the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
A showdown between Ashley Wagner and Gracie Gold in the women’s competition is drawing the most attention in Saint Paul, Minn. Wagner is a three-time national champion, but Gold won the title in 2014.
“The biggest test for me is when I put out a solid short program — what am I going to do with that long program, am I going to be able to keep the momentum?” Wagner said during a recent teleconference.
The men’s field will be thin, with defending champion Jason Brown and top contender Joshua Farris forced to withdraw because of injuries, but there should be strong competition in ice dance.
The championships are scheduled to continue through Sunday.
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