events

14 U.S. Athletes to Compete at 2012 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Nice, France

Meryl Davis and Charlie White perform at 2011 Hilton HHonors Skate America (photo by Getty Images/Stephen Dunn)

2012 ISU World Figure Skating Championships competition notes

2012 ISU World Figure Skating Championships icenetwork event page

(3/23/12) - Fourteen U.S. athletes will compete at the 2012 ISU World Figure Skating Championships from March 26-April 1, 2012, in Nice, France.

Competition begins Wednesday, March 28, with the pairs short program and the short dance. Competitive events conclude Saturday, March 31, with the men's and ladies free skates.

Universal Sports Network will provide extensive live coverage of the competition and NBC Sports will broadcast a World Championships recap show from 3-6 p.m. (EDT) Sunday, April 8. The broadcast team features play-by-play announcer Paul Sunderland and analysts Peter Carruthers, Tara Lipinski and Tanith Belbin.

Icenetwork.com will broadcast live and on-demand coverage of the World Championships on a subscription basis. Current Season Pass subscribers can purchase the World Championships for $5.95. Those who are not Season Pass subscribers and want to watch the World Championships can do so for $11.95. Those who wish to become Season Pass subscribers and add on the World Championships can do so for $45.90. All of these subscription packages also include access to on-demand video from the 2012 Four Continents Championships. Please visit www.icenetwork.com/subscribe.

Icenetwork.com will also feature news, photos and blogs for all users.

LADIES
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 followed that up by winning gold at the 2012 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships two weeks later. Alissa Czisny looks to improve on a fifth-place finish at this event last season. The 2012 U.S. silver medalist, Czisny qualified for the 2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and most recently competed at the 2012 International Challenge Cup in early March.

MEN'S
Jeremy Abbott, a three-time U.S. champion, reclaimed his U.S. title in January. Abbott, who withdrew from the 2012 Four Continents Championships due to a right hip injury, won the silver medal at the 2012 International Challenge Cup. Abbott placed fifth at the 2011 Grand Prix Final after winning gold and bronze at 2011 Cup of China and 2011 Rostelecom Cup, respectively. Adam Rippon returns to the World Championships after placing sixth in 2010. Rippon's season included a pair of fourth-place finishes at Skate Canada and Trophee Bombard, a silver-medal at the 2012 U.S. Championships and a fourth-place showing at 2012 Four Continents. Abbott and Rippon are training mates in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., under coaches Jason Dungjen and Yuka Sato.

PAIRS
Caydee Denney and John Coughlin, the 2012 U.S. champions, continue a successful first season together. Since teaming up in May, they enjoyed top-five finishes at two Grand Prix events, won the U.S. title and earned the Four Continents silver medal. Mary Beth Marley and Rockne Brubaker are the 2012 U.S. silver medalists and Four Continents bronze medalists. They will make their second trip of the season to Nice after placing third at 2011 Cup of Nice.

ICE DANCING
Meryl Davis and Charlie White lead Team USA into Nice. The duo will defend their 2011 title after becoming the first U.S. ice dancing team to ever win the World Championships. Davis and White, four-time reigning U.S. champions, enjoyed an undefeated fall, winning two Grand Prix events and the Grand Prix Final. They most recently won silver at the Four Continents Championships. Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani are two-time U.S. silver medalists. Last year, in their first senior season, Shibutani and Shibutani won bronze at the World Championships. Their 2011-12 season features two Grand Prix medals, a trip to the Grand Prix Final and a fourth-place finish at Four Continents. Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue won bronze at the 2012 U.S. Championships in their first season together. They finished fifth at Four Continents.

U.S. ENTRIES AT 2012 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2012 World Championships
TV Broadcast Schedule (all times Eastern, subject to change, check local listings)

2012 World Championships
icenetwork.com Broadcast Schedule (all times Eastern, subject to change, all events live)