A mix of fresh faces and veterans will represent Team USA at the second stop of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series Aug. 30-Sept. 2 in Linz, Austria.
Skating for the United States in the women’s division is 2022 U.S. junior bronze medalist Josephine Lee. The 2023 World Junior Team member enters her third season on the Junior Grand Prix circuit, previously earning two top-10 finishes in Poland last year.
In the men’s competition, Beck Strommer will compete in his first Junior Grand Prix event of the season. Strommer started off strong with gold at the 2023 Cranberry Cup earlier this month.
For the first time this season, pairs teams will have the opportunity to compete in a Junior Grand Prix event. Representing the stars and stripes is Olivia Flores and Luke Wang. The pair will be making their Junior Grand Prix debut after earning gold at the 2023 Challenge Cup to end the 2022-23 season.
Rounding out Team USA are the sibling ice dance duos of Caroline Mullen and Brendan Mullen and Elliana Peal and Ethan Peal. The Mullens will make their Junior Grand Prix debut while the Peals head to the Junior Grand Prix with top-six finishes in Poland and France last season. Both teams earned a spot on the podium at the Lake Placid Ice Dance International earlier this month.
The competition begins on Thursday, Aug. 31 with the men’s, pairs and women’s short programs. The following day, the ice dancers will take the ice for the first time for the rhythm dance and medals will be awarded in the pairs and women’s divisions. Competition wraps up on Saturday, Sept. 2 with the free dance and men’s free skate.
Entering its 26th season, the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series consists of seven international events in a cumulative point-scoring format. Each athlete is eligible to score points in two of the seven scheduled events (pairs can compete in two of four designated events). The top six point-earners in each discipline qualify for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023, taking place Dec. 7-10 in Beijing, China.
Source : US Figure Skating Fan Zone