Tag Archives: Javier Fernández

Fernandez Wins Trophee de France

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Javier Fernandez has jumped his way to a Trophee…

The 25-year-old Spanish figure skater, a two-time World champion, landed three quads to post his second win of the season at the Trophee de France and qualify for the Grand Prix Final on Saturday.

Javier Fernandez

Fresh from his win at the Rostelecom Cup last week in Russia, Fernandez led the field after Friday’s short program and dominated the free at the Palais Omnisports.

Skating to the music of Elvis Presley, he opened with a quadruple toe loop, landed a quadruple salchow-double toe loop and followed with a quadruple salchow in the second half of his program.

World and Olympic medalist Denis Ten of Kazakhstan was a distant second, 16.12 points back. Fourth after the short program, Adam Rippon was second in the free and edged out fellow American Nathan Chen for the bronze medal.

The Trophee de France was the fourth event of the series. The Cup of China and the NHK Trophy this month will be the last chances for ice skaters to book their place at the Final.

Fernandez Takes the Lead at Trophee de France

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He may have fallen, but Javier Fernandez has managed to stay on top…

The 25-year-old Spanish figure skater, a two-time world champion, recovered from a fall on his first jump to take the lead in the men’s short program at the Trophee de France on Friday.

Javier Fernandez

The four-time European champion, who was skating to “Malaguena,” performed by Paco de Lucia and Placido Domingo, fell on his quadruple toe loop attempt on the Palais Omnisports ice but stayed calm. He then perfectly delivered a quadruple salchow-triple toe loop combination and landed a triple axel.

Fernandez, who won the Rostelecom Cup last week in Russia, will go into the free skate Saturday with a 3.72-point lead over American teenager Nathan Chen. World and Olympic medalist Denis Ten of Kazakhstan was a distant third, 7.36 points back.

Fernandez, who said he needed to improve his short program after his second place in Russia, was happy with the adjustments he made.

“Although I still fell on the quad toe, I’ve improved my spins and steps,” he said.

Chen, already the first skater to perform four quadruple jumps in a free skate during competition in January at the U.S nationals, became the first to land a quadruple lutz and a quadruple flip in the same program.

“I’m not trying to make history, I’m just setting personal goals,” the 17-year-old Chen said after making a successful debut on the senior circuit.

The Trophee de France is the fourth event of the Grand Prix Series. Held in Bordeaux last year, the event was canceled after the first day of competition because of the terror attacks in Paris.

The Cup of China and the NHK Trophy later this month will be the last chances for ice skaters to qualify for the GP Final from Dec. 7-11 in Marseille, France.

Fernandez Wins the Men’s Gold at Rostelecom Cup Grand Prix

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Javier Fernandez has added another title to his resume…

The 24-year-old Spanish figure skater won the men’s gold at the Rostelecom Cup Grand Prix on Saturday, after powering back from a disappointing short program.

Javier Fernandez

Fernandez, the reigning world champion, wasn’t able to do a quad in his short program on Friday, but opened his free skate with two of them, tacking a triple toeloop onto the second one in his cheerful program to music from Guys and Dolls.

But his aim of doing three failed when he launched badly and fell after two rotations.

“I was just so excited that the program was going so well, and I went into that third quad and made a mistake,” he said.

Russian Adian Pitkeev picked up silver, his first Grand Prix medal, despite a troubled free skate that placed him fifth in the segment and dropped him from the lead after the short. Skating last because of that lead, he was unnerved by watching others do well.

“I must admit it was hard to get my act together,” said Pitkeev, who tried only one quad and then took a hard fall on a triple axel. Toward the end I played it safe and conservative after that fall.”

Ross Miner won bronze, to his surprise because he thought he had been outdone by fellow American Adam Rippon. But Miner’s score was revised to upgrade the level of one of his spins.

Fernandez Among the Magnificent 7 Latino Medal Hopefuls at the 2014 Winter Olympics

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2014 Sochi Games

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia are in full swing following an entertaining opening ceremony on Friday in front of about 40,000 people in the stands at Fisht Olympic Stadium.

In all, eight Latin American countries will be participating at the Sochi Games, including Mexico, whose sole representative, Alpine skier Hubertus von Hohenlohe, could take home the title of best-dressed Olympian.

Even though von Hohenlohe – competing in his sixth Winter Olympics – isn’t expected to earn a medal at this year’s Games, there are several Latino athletes who could end up on the medal stand in Sochi.

Here’s a look at seven Latino medal contenders at this year’s Games, which will run through February 23:

Javier Fernandez

Javier Fernández
Javier Fernández has come a long way since placing 14th at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, where he was the first man to compete for Spain in Olympic figure skating in half a century.

Since then, the 22-year-old Spanish figure skater has gone on to make a name for himself on the ice.

Fernandez, Spain’s flag bearer at Friday’s Opening Ceremony, is the 2013 World Figure Skating Championships bronze medalist and the 2013 and 2014 European Figure Skating champion.

He’ll be performing his short program to “Satan Takes a Holiday” by Larry Clinton; his long program will Henry Mancini’s “Peter Gunn”
 and Earle Hagen’s “Harlem Nocturne.”

Jacqueline Hernandez

Jacqueline Hernandez
The winter of 2012 turned out to be a breakout season for Jacqueline Hernandez. The 21-year-old snowboarder won nearly all the Nor-Ams she entered—six out of eight. Hernandez quickly climbed the ranks of the World Cup circuit, ending with an impressive win at the final World Cup of the season in Valmalenco, Italy.

Even though she finished sixth at the 2013 World Cup, Hernandez hasn’t lost hope of winning an Olympic medal at the 2014 Sochi Games.

Queralt Castellet

Queralt Castellet
Queralt Castellet was thisclose to earning a medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. The 24-year-old Spanish snowboarder scored a 44.3 on her first qualifying run, third highest in the round. But Castellet suffered a concussionwhile practicing in the lead-up to the final and has to withdraw from the competition.

The third time could be the charm for Castellet, competing in her third Winter Games.

Lucas Eguibar

Lucas Eguibar
Since winning the gold medal at the 2013 FIS Junior World Championships, Lucas Eguibar has continued his medal-winning ways. The 19-year-old Spanish snowboarder earned his first trip to the world cup podium in Arosa, Switzerland on March 9, 2013, after placing third in the Snowboard cross. And Eguibar followed that up with a second place finish in the Snowboard cross at the World Cup in Vallnord-Arcalís, Andorra on January 12, 2014.

Dominique Ohaco-1

Dominique Ohaco
Following strong results in the world cup, Chile has pinned its hopes on Dominique Ohaco to bring home the country’s first-ever Winter Olympics medal. The 18-year-old freestyle skier, Chile’s flag bearer during Friday’s opening ceremony, will compete in the women’s slopestyle event, a new addition to the Olympic roster.

“I’m gonna try to compete the best I can, and give the best,” says Ohaco.  “I’m not feeling any pressure.”

Eduardo Alvarez

Eduardo Alvarez
Eduardo Alvarez, the son of Cuban immigrants, is first Cuban-American male speed skater to make a U.S. Olympic team after a great performance at the 2014 Winter Olympic Trials.

The 24-year-old short track speed skater, who earned the nickname “Eddie the Jet” as a child, has had an impressive run during the 2013–14 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup. He won a gold (at Kolomna) and a silver (at Seoul) in the 5000-meter relay, as well as a bronze (at Shanghai) in the 500 meters.

Jonathan Garcia

Jonathan Garcia
During the United States Olympic Trials in December 2013, Jonathan Garcia skated a personal best 34.85s in the 500-meter race to qualify for the. But the 27-year-old Latino speed skater was disqualified on a technicality.

“Even though I was disqualified, I still raced one of my best races ever so it was still good regardless of being disqualified,” Garcia told the Katy Times.

But Garcia didn’t let that disappointment affect him. The following day he earned a spot on the U.S. Winter Olympic team by finishing fourth in the 1000-meter event, claiming his first Olympic berth of his career.