Canadians Bashynska and Beaumont win bronze at ISU Junior Grand Prix
CHELYABINSK, Russia – Nadiia Bashynska and Peter Beaumont of Ajax, Ont., completed the best performance of their careers on Saturday earning a bronze medal in ice dancing to conclude the fourth stop on the ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating circuit.
Elizaveta Shanaeva and Devid Naryzhnyy led Russia to a 1-2 finish with 171.07 points followed by Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin in second at 158.24.
Bashynska and Beaumont ranked fifth for their free skate but hung on to third overall with 149.05. They set personal best scores for the rhythm dance, free skate and total points.
“It’s crazy,” said Bashynska,15. “We were going into this Grand Prix for the experience. I’m so thankful, we worked hard for this. I’ve never competed in front of so many people.”
“When we stepped on the ice for our skate we just blocked everything out,” added Beaumont, 18. “To win a medal here is incredible.”
Irina Galiyanova and Grayson Lochhead of Scarborough, Ont., also posted best scores across the board for fifth at 147.34.
“This was a big stepping stone from our Grand Prix earlier this year,” said the Moscow-born Galiyanova, ninth with her partner at the Lake Placid stop two weeks ago. “We performed the programs the way should and under the pressure too.”
In women’s competition, Kamila Valieva led Russia to a medal sweep. Olivia Gran of Kelowna, B.C., was 15th.
The fifth stop on the circuit is next Thursday to Saturday in Gdansk, Poland.
Full results: JGP RUS 2019