Fournier Beaudry and Soerensen win gold at ISU Challenger Series Finlandia Trophy

ESPOO, Finland (October 9, 2022) – Canada’s string of international success in ice dance this season continued Sunday as Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen of Montreal, Que. won the gold medal at the ISU Challenger Series Finlandia Trophy.

The Canadian Olympians totalled 203.76 points, their best ever score in international competition. Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker of the U.S. took the silver with 197.45 and Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis of Finland were third at 186.30.

‘’We are so happy to deliver those two performances,’’ said Soerensen. ‘’We’ve been working so hard on redeeming ourselves after how we finished last season, so we are just happy being out here and skating really well.’’

Last season, the couple posted four medal performances in international competition before placing ninth at both the Olympic Winter Games and world championships.

Over the past two weeks Canada has won four international gold in ice dance. At last week’s Challenger Series in Czechia, Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha were the winners and at the last two ISU Junior Grand Prix events, Nadiia Bashynska and Peter Beaumont have struck gold.

Canada added a bronze in pair in Finland with Brooke McIntosh of Toronto, Ont. and Benjamin Mimar of Terrebonne, Que., placing third with 166.61 in their senior international debut.

Germany was 1-2 with Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel first with 180.62 and Elisa Efimova and Ruben Blommaert second at 177.11.

‘’This was a new experience for us competing at this level,’’ said Mimar, who won the bronze with his partner at the world junior championships last season. ‘’Our free wasn’t the best we could do, after a good short, but we are still happy with third place.’’

Olympic silver medallist Yelim Kim of South Korea won the women’s gold while Lia Pereira of Milton, Ont., was 15^th.

Conrad Orzel of Toronto was 11^th in men’s competition.

The Challenger Series provides opportunities for senior skaters to compete at an international level and earn world ranking points.

Full results: https://www.figureskatingresults.fi/results/2223/CSFIN2022/index.htm