Kaori Sakamoto Retirement Plans and other Skating News
Scoreography
Three time world champion Kaori Sakamoto announces her post-Olympics retirement plan, and we have some feelings about it. Plus lots of new program announcements, and we talk about our experience at the North American Adult Synchronized Skating Camp. Chapters 0:00 — Intro 0:31 — NAASC Synchro Camp Experience 4:52 — Kaori Sakamoto Retirement Plans 10:43 — Other Skating News 11:06 — Young You’s Triple Axel 13:22 — Gabby Daleman returns 14:32 — Kovalevs change coaches 16:05 — US Summer Sizzler and Program Announcements 17:53 — Riku and Ryuchi choreographers 18:33 — Mai Mihara...
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In the Mixed Zone - featuring Judith Dombrowski
Scoreography
We talk with figure skating journalist Judith Dombrowski about her work with Golden Skate and Pirouette Magazine, and what it’s like conducting interviews in the ‘Mixed Zone’ at skating competitions. Chapters 0:00 — Intro 2:06 — What is the Mixed Zone? 15:28 — Overcoming language barriers 18:12 — Skaters seeking content creators and alternative press 20:32 — A push to find “drama”? 24:40 — How much skating does a reporter actually see? 30:02 — Covering the Road to 2026 Event 33:56 — Familiar faces at events 35:45 — Best skaters in the Mixed Zone 38:50 — Looking...
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Grand Prix 2025 Assignments and Return of Sui and Han
Scoreography
We dig into all of the Grand Prix assignments for the upcoming figure skating season, as well as the unsurprising return of the Olympic Pairs champions, China’s Sui and Han. It may be skating’s off-season, but there was a lot to be excited about this past week as the 2025 Grand Prix assignments were announced — and two legends of the sport quietly confirmed their long-rumored return. The biggest story to come out of the assignments was unquestionably the return of reigning Olympic pair’s gold medalists, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong from China. While there had been rumors of their...
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Spring Skating News (May 2025)
Scoreography
We round-up the past week or so of off-season skating news, including new-and-returning programs from Kevin Aymoz, Kaori Sakamoto, and the Brown siblings. Haein Lee’s suspension has formally been nullified, and the Taschler siblings move to Finland with a new coaching team. And lots more. Chapters 1:17 — Stars on Ice and Show Season 4:57 — Kevin Aymoz brings back Bolero 9:09 — Oona and Gage Brown skate to The Godfather 11:18 — Haein Lee does Carmen; suspension is nullified 13:36 — Chaeyeon Kim working with Benoit again 15:03 — Rion Sumiyoshi working with Misha Ge and Shae Lynn...
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Listener Q&A 2025 Edition — Your Questions Answered!
Scoreography
In our second annual Q&A episode, we answer listener submitted questions about the upcoming Olympic season, our all-time favorite programs, the origin story of the podcast, and lots more. The off-season can feel LONG… especially the off-season before the Olympic season! This is why it was especially fun to dive into some “what if” scenarios, skating nostalgia, and even a few messy predictions for the coming year. We also dig into a few more serious topics, including the pros and cons of getting into the figure skating creator space, why big success for the U.S. in women’s figure...
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The Shib Sibs Return?!
Scoreography
After SEVEN years away from competitive figure skating, ice dance Hall of Famers the Shib Sibs — Maia and Alex Shibutani — are returning. Just in time for the Olympic season. We have complicated feelings about it (especially Adron). We ruminate on the sport’s inextricable tie to the Olympic quadrennial, how that both helps and hinders skating fandom, and the role of nostalgia in promoting the sport. Referenced in this episode: Follow Scoreography: Website — Instagram — BlueSky —
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Modernizing the Sport with FS.SkatingStan
Scoreography
We’re joined by Haley from FS.SkatingStan, one of our favorite figure skating Instagram accounts, to talk about her experience at Worlds 2025, the efforts from the ISU to modernize the sport, and the role content creators play in the skating’s future. Modernizing the Sport, and the Role of Content Creators in Skating’s Future This episode of Scoreography features our very first guest on the show. Haley from FS.SkatingStan — one of our favorite figure skating fan accounts on Instagram — drops in for a wide-ranging conversation about the season, her experience at Worlds 2025, and...
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World Team Trophy 2025 RECAP
Scoreography
We look back at all the fun shenanigans and terrific performances from the 2025 World Team Trophy competition in Japan, including a dominant win from Team USA and first WTT medal for Team Italy. Chapters 0:00 — Intro 1:51 — Predictions and Results 3:09 — Women's Competition 15:49 — Pairs Competition 23:27 — Men's Competition 33:00 — Ice Dance Competition 40:05 — Mao Shimada in the Gala 41:50 — Gold in our Hearts 46:16 — Wrap-Up Recap of 2025 Figure Skating World Team Trophy The 2024/2025 figure skating season finally came to its official end in Tokyo, Japan, at the World Team...
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World Team Trophy 2025 PREVIEW
Scoreography
We look ahead to one of our favorite and most fun figure skating events, the bi-annual World Team Trophy. The competition features teams from the USA, Japan, Canada, Italy, Georgia, and France. Chapters 0:00 — World Team Trophy Overview 9:57 — Team Rosters 29:50 — World Team Podium Predictions 32:22 — Wrap-Up Follow Scoreography: Website — Instagram — BlueSky —
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Scoreography Awards 2025, ISU Awards, and Olympic Qualifications
Scoreography
We reflect on the post-Worlds ISU Awards, dig through the official Olympic Qualifications, and then hand out our own 2025 Scoreography Awards across 10 different categories. Chapters 0:00 — Intro 0:54 — Olympic Spot Qualifications 19:43 — ISU Awards 28:38 — The Scoreography Awards 29:10 — Favorite Program: Men 31:09 — Favorite Program: Women 32:27 — Favorite Program: Pairs 34:03 — Favorite Program: Ice Dance 35:15 — Breakout Skater or Team 38:44 — Best Costume 41:16 — Best Gala Performance 44:03 — Future Star 45:48 — Skater or Team of the Year 48:34 — Moment of the...
info_outlineWith the 2026 Olympics just a year away, we look back at Beijing 2022. We examine the current Milano Cortina hopefuls who competed in the previous Olympic mens and pairs, to see how far they’ve come in the years between.
Chapters
0:00 — Intro and Context
2:09 — Original introduction
3:39 — Pairs Competition
24:17 — Men's Competition
51:55 — Thoughts from the Future
54:58 — Wrap-Up
This week we’re digging into the archives a bit, and looking back at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. In particular, we’re discussing the Pairs and Men’s figure skating competitions, and reflecting on the skaters who were there that we also expect to be at the next games in Milano Cortina — what they looked like then vs. where they appear to be heading!
This week marks one year until the start of the 2026 Olympic Games, so it feels like it’s time to start getting excited for them.
Note this is part one of two — we’ll be discussing the Womens and Ice Dance competitions from Beijing soon.
Pairs Competition
While its hard to reflect on this competition without falling all over ourselves about how remarkable the gold medalists, Sui and Han, were, we try not to focus out attention there — though, its not out of the realm of possibility that we will see Sui and her new partner in Milano Cortina.
Of those we expect to see, we take a look at many who have new parters including Luka Berulava, Minerva Hase, and Matteo Guarise. Of the teams who are still united, Riku Miura and Ryuchi Kihara are definitely the standouts. The Beijing games felt like their coming out party, and they have become favorites (and World Champions!) since.
Men’s Competition
The large, extraordinary shadows of Nathan Chen, Shoma Uno, and Yuzuru Hanyu still linger over us, but it was just as interesting to go back and see the men who’ve improved in skill and expression since 2022.
The growth and evolution of Yuma Kagiyama, Adam Siao Him Fa, and Lukas Britschgi is absolutely remarkable. What’s also wonderful is reliving how great Junhwan Cha, Deniss Vasiļjevs, and Kevin Aymoz were already. Watching all of them and more in Beijing made us exponentially more excited to see where they will all be in another year — and how intense that competition is going to be.
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