Pairs has almost always been a game of incumbents—it often takes years for pair teams to gel and get their timing right and figure out how to skate with each other. But this year, the pairs event at the 2024 World Figure Skating Championships could very much be about the newcomers. Last year’s gold medalists have been sidelined by injury most of the season, last year’s silver medalists are not currently skating, and last year’s bronze medalists have had a tough season. This season has been the story of two newly-formed teams—can one of them manage to take the title?
Outside of that, this field is deep—there are at least 14 pairs who could figure into the top ten. And given that pairs are the first to start and finish, this competition will go by in a flash.
2024 Worlds top 10 predictions
Official hashtags: #WorldsMTL24 #WorldFigure
GOLD Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps CAN - The last time they skated internationally at home, they put out their very best at Skate Canada, winning that event with what is still the highest total score of the season among the pairs. Their improvements from last season are visible, but what they will need to watch for are the grades of execution on their elements. It’ll be strong execution that will get them to the top, especially given how close these teams are.
SILVER Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin GER - Up until Europeans, it’s been a dream debut season for Hase/Volodin—a win at every event, including the Grand Prix Final, except for a silver at Lombardia Trophy. But then the wheels came off in the free skate, as it did for a lot of pairs there, at Europeans, and they ended up a disappointing fifth. Their pair has been so strong in their first season. They will have to watch for the side-by-sides.
BRONZE Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava GEO - They also can win this whole thing, no problem. But their last two events have not been up to their standards—great short program only to make mistakes in the free. Their Junior Worlds free skate was particularly surprising, given they had errors in both throws and both side-by-sides. If they have righted the ship, they have a real shot at the World title. No one has ever won gold at Junior Worlds and senior Worlds in the same season in the history of the sport.
4. Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara JPN - Right now, it’s all about confidence for the defending champs. After missing most of the season due to Kihara’s injury, they are back for the season finale. Their silver at Four Continents was a good step, but they will need to take it up a couple notches to make it two in a row.
5. Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii ITA - Last year, they were surprised at their rise every step of the way. They went from being ecstatic about getting a second Grand Prix assignment to winning bronze at Worlds all in a matter of four months. Their follow-up season has been more of a challenge, as inconsistent performances crept in early in the season. Their best competition was Grand Prix Final, and another performance like that can get them on the podium again.
6. Lia Pereira/Trennt Michaud CAN - Sixth last year in their debut season, Pereira/Michaud have been solid in their sophomore effort. They haven’t put two clean skates together as often as they would like, and that’ll be their potential obstacle here. The side-by-sides, in particular, have to be strong.
7. Ellie Kam/Danny O’Shea USA - The new US champions and Four Continents bronze medalists come into their second Worlds looking to improve from their 12th place finish last year. That seems likely, and they also have such potential to get themselves into the mix. Their biggest potential issue will be the throws, but they have looked stronger in practice this week than they did at Nationals.
8. Emily Chan/Spencer Howe USA - Fifth at Worlds last year, it looked like they were ready to take over the mantle for US pairs this season, but shoulder surgery and the subsequent long recovery for Howe has kept them from competing more than just a short program at Nationals this season. It’s been two months since that competition, and it’s possible to see them fight for top five again this year, and it’s also possible for them to be completely outside the top ten.
9. Lucrezia BeccariMatteo Guarise ITA - The surprise European champions has had a very strong second season together, making the Italian team for Worlds among a very competitive field. Their win at Europeans set them up well for this event, but their showing at Challenge Cup just a month ago was a bit of a step back from that.
10. Maria Pavlova/Alexei Sviatchenko HUN - Seventh here last year, Pavlova/Sviatchenko were fourth both at Grand Prix Final and at Europeans. Their consistency will bode well for their chances here. Of these top teams, their components give them the biggest deficit.
Other to watch for the top 10: Peng/Wang, Golubeva/Giotopoulos Moore, Hocke/Kunkel