Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx, American Izabeau Levito shine to open figure skating worlds

Loena Hendrickx leads the women’s short program at the World Figure Skating Championships and is looking to become the first Belgian to win the singles title.

Hendrickx, 24, who won silver and bronze (Belgium’s first singles medals) at the last two worlds, overcame a hip injury to score a personal best of 76.98 in Montreal on Wednesday.

She landed a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a double Axel and a triple Lutz, ahead of American Isabeau Leviton by 3.25 points. Free skate is Friday.

“I had a tough time coming here with my injury and I had to change my training because of the restrictions in my training, but I think I dealt with it smartly and I was able to do my best today. “, said Hendrickx. According to the International Skating Union (ISU).. “I have to admit that I made my program easier with the jump combination in the first part and not in the second part. But it also put more pressure on me because I’ve never done this combination in a race before.”

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Levito, 17, also had a personal best in shorts that included a triple Lutz-triple toe, a double Axel and a triple flip, ending with two punches and a big smile.

Levito, who finished fourth at last year’s world championships, is back after competing in her most recent program, the free skate at the U.S. championships in January.

“I feel like I’ve lost my confidence, which shows up under the competition and pressure,” he said, according to ISU. “I know that I am a strong competitor inside. It’s really good to have it back again.”

Leviton’s goal is to get on the podium.

Ashley Wagner was the last US woman to finish in the top two in the world, winning silver in 2016. Kimmie Meissner was the last American woman to win a world title in 2006.

In the standings, Leviton is followed by 2023 silver medalist Lee Hae-in of South Korea and two-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan.

Sakamoto, trying to become the first woman to win a world three-peat since American Peggy Fleming in 1968, went down on the triple Lutz (losing the grade of execution points and received an unclear outside call) and slipped short in her program.

U.S. champion Amber Glenn is ninth after landing a triple triple toe and a double Axel.

Levito and Glenn finished third and 14th, respectively, with the best totals this season.

If they finish 13th or better (eg, sixth and seventh), the U.S. will earn a maximum of three women’s spots at the 2025 World Championships.

Earlier on Wednesday, Canadians Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps took first place in the doubles short program. Read more about that event here.

Worlds continues Thursday with the men’s short and doubles free, live the peacock.

Canadians Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps lead after the pairs short program.