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2012 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships Continue Through Sunday

(2/7/12) - The 2012 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships locally presented by Wells Fargo are set for Feb. 9-12 at the Colorado Springs World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo. Now in its 14th year, the event is sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU) and features skaters from the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania.

Team USA will compete in a field that includes six Olympic and World medalists as 102 athletes from 17 countries are set to compete.

Ashley Wagner won her first U.S. title at the 2012 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, Calif., in late January. She will compete at the Four Continents Championships for the first time since 2008. Joining her are Agnes Zawadzki, the 2012 U.S. bronze medalist, who lives and trains in Colorado Springs and attends Cheyenne Mountain High School, and Caroline Zhang, who placed fourth at the 2012 U.S. Championships.

Team USA will be led by Adam Rippon, the 2012 U.S. silver medalist. Rippon is a previous Four Continents champion, claiming gold in 2010. The 2012 U.S. bronze medalist, Ross Miner of Boston, will compete at his first Four Continents Championships. Richard Dornbush will also make his Four Continents Championships debut next week. This season, Dornbush finished fourth and sixth, respectively, at his Grand Prix assignments at Skate America and Cup of China. He most recently competed at the 2012 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Dornbush replaced Jeremy Abbott, the 2012 U.S. champion, who withdrew last week due to a right hip injury.

Caydee Denney & John Coughlin, the 2012 U.S. champions, teamed up in May and train in Colorado Springs. This competition marks their first major international championship. Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker look to improve upon an eighth-place finish at this event a year ago. Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig are 2010 Olympians and three-time U.S. medalists.

Meryl Davis & Charlie White lead Team USA into Colorado Springs. Having won 10 consecutive gold medals, the duo are four-time reigning U.S. champions, 2011 World champions and 2010 Olympic silver medalists. They will defend their 2011 Four Continents title. Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani, who previously trained in Colorado Springs, return to the area and look for another Four Continents medal. The two-time U.S. silver medalists earned silver last year. Madison Hubbell & Zach Donohue won bronze in San Jose after teaming up in the spring.

Starting at $9 per event, tickets for 2012 Four Continents Championships are available online at www.2012fourcontinents.com or at the World Arena box office.

The event will air live on Universal Sports, while icenetwork.com will provide live and on-demand coverage of the Four Continents Championships to subscribers. For more information, please visit www.icenetwork.com.

2012 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
Universal Sports Broadcast Schedule (all times Eastern, subject to change, check local listings)

2012 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
icenetwork.com Broadcast Schedule (all times Eastern, subject to change)