http://www.examiner.com/figure-skating- ... h-olympicsSotnikova, Tuktamisheva headline Youth OlympicsTwo Russian stars who could very well be at the Sochi Olympics two years from now will be the main draw at the Winter Youth Olympics, which begins this weekend in Innsbruck, Austria. Three-time Russian champion Adelina Sotnikova and this season’s breakout star Elizaveta Tuktamisheva, both too young to compete at Europeans and Worlds, will be the biggest names at the event.
Figure skating at the Winter Youth Games is limited to singles skaters and the female half of the pairs and dance teams who were born in 1996 or 1997 (the male half of the pairs and dance teams have to be born between 1994 and 1997). With the U.S. and Canada having their national championships taking place next week and the week after, they are not sending a full team (in fact, Canada opted to not send any skaters at all as a result of the scheduling conflict). But many of the countries, including Russia, Japan, and China, will have their top up-and-coming talent in Austria.
LADIES
No doubt, the focus will be on Sotnikova and Tuktamisheva, who are competing head-to-head for the second time this season. Even though Tuktamisheva overshadowed her teammate during the Grand Prix series, it was Sotnikova who won the Russian title while Tuktamisheva settled for a shocking sixth place. It is more than likely that the two Russians will be standing one and two in some order at the end of the competition.
But there is plenty more talent who could sneak in and surprise if either Russian skater falters. China’s Zijun Li, fresh off a sweep of the three events competed at the Chinese Winter Games, and former Japanese junior champion Risa Shoji, both have the technical arsenal and the international credentials to challenge for the podium. The U.S. has one entry in the ladies’ event, Jordan Bauth, who finished 11th at least year’s Nationals on the novice level.
MEN
With the silver medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final this season, China’s Han Yan, already with a quad toe in his arsenal, has established himself as one of the juniors on the men’s side to watch. He is the favorite to win the gold in Innsbruck. Challenging for the podium will be Japan’s Shoma Uno, who may be deceiving height-wise – he’s 4’7” – but he took the bronze at Tallinn Cup on the Junior Grand Prix circuit with a fine array of triples. South Korea’s June Hyoung Lee also medaled on the JGP and will be looking for a podium finish as well.
PAIRS
With only five pairs entered, it is fairly easy to find the favorites – China’s Xiaoyu Yu and Yang Jin, who finished fifth at the Junior Grand Prix Final in December. The Americans will be represented by 2011 U.S. intermediate silver medalists Caitlin Belt and Michael Johnson.
DANCE
As with pairs, there is a clear favorite amongst the ice dance teams at the Winter Youth Games, as Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalists Anna Yanovskaia and Sergei Mozgov will be looking for more hardware for Russia. U.S. novice champions Rachael Parsons and Michael Parsons will be doing double-duty this month, competing for the U.S in Innsbruck and then heading straight to San Jose, California, for the U.S. Nationals.
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Olympic torch lighting ceremony starts first Winter Youth Olympic Games: http://www.examiner.com/cultural-olympi ... mpic-games
- Первые Зимние юношеские Игры: 
и Аделина на тренировке. / Liza & Sotnikova training
