In a pond full of 'Black Swan' wannabes, Cesario's portrayal stands out

She's baaaack.

Samantha Cesario has returned from a year full of injuries looking stronger and more determined than ever. The 18-year old from New Jersey took the bronze medal today at the third Junior Grand Prix event in Gdansk, Poland.



Her portrayal of Odile, the black swan from Tchaikovsky's famous ballet, is stunning as she uses every part of her body -- right down to her fingertips -- to tell the story. What's more, her jumps have never looked better. Yes, she still has an egregious "flutz," but her jumps are higher and stronger, and the triple loop is back in her arsenal.

Cesario looks poised for a breakthrough at Nationals in 2012. She missed the event last January due to her back injury, but that appears to be in the past. She is the highest scoring U.S. lady of the season to date, and after strong summer competition showings, one can see the momentum begin to build. The next step: a (preferably) top 2 finish at her next JGP event, and then (hopefully) a spot at the JGP Final in Quebec City in December.

If she can keep her focus and drive for the next few months, there's no reason to believe she can't be top 6 at Nationals in January, perhaps even flirting with a top 4 podium finish. In this ever-unpredictable world of U.S. ladies, anything is possible.

The new & improved Tom Z.-free Joshua Farris

After a disastrous Nationals last January, Joshua Farris hightailed it away from creepy Tom Zakrajsek and found a safe haven in Christy Krall. And for that, we thank God.

Farris showed his new and improved skating skills and jump technique yesterday during the men's short program at the Junior Grand Prix in Gdansk, Poland. He scored a whopping 75.69 points for this program -- a score that would have put him in the top 10 at last season's World Championships.



It's been a tough year for Zakrajsek (*tear*). From January-June, he lost five of his most prominent national and international competitors, including a trio of senior ladies in Rachael Flatt, Agnes Zawadzki and Alexe Gilles, as well as senior men Farris and Alexander Johnson. While we don't know how Flatt, Gilles or Johnson have looked lately, both Farris and Zawadzki seem to have improved leaps and bounds both technically and artistically since dumping Zakrajsek. Both now work with Krall, coach of the reigning men's world champion Patrick Chan of Canada (Zawadzki also works with David Santee on a part-time basis).

Farris is looking more confident, relaxed and mature. With Krall on his side, this is shaping up to be his breakout year.

Hicks, Shoji shine in season debuts

If there was ever any doubt about American Courtney Hicks' jumping ability or the competitive spirit of Japan's Risa Shoji, they've just been erased. Hicks laid down two stunning, jam-packed performances to take the ladies title at the second Junior Grand Prix event of the season in Brisbane, Australia. While not perfect, her high-flying jumps, innovative spins and performance flair gave her the gold medal by more than 4 points ahead of Shoji.

After a disappointing short program in which all three of her attempted triples received "<" under rotation calls, Shoji was brilliant in the free skate, nailing a triple Salchow-triple toe loop-double toe loop combination, a double Axel-triple toe loop and five other strong jumping passes. Her program, set to the score from "Legends of the Fall," is not a stylistic departure for her, but it does suit her perfectly. She moved up from a 4th place short program showing to score a 100+ point free skate and win the silver medal.

The night belonged to Hicks, though. She did suffer two falls -- one on the second half of a triple flip-triple loop combination and then again seconds later on a solo triple loop attempt -- but five other triple jumps, a plethora of transitions and her very cool "Hicks" spin allowed her to amass a free skate score of 101.72 and an overall score of 151.91, the second best ladies international score recorded so far this season.

The other American in the ladies field, Vanessa Lam, nabbed the bronze medal after a solid free skate. She appeared to be sailing along until her final jump, a planned triple Lutz that went scarily wrong. After rushing the take-off, she came down a half turn short, her body slamming into the ice sideways and drawing a gasp from the audience. While she did still win a medal with a very respectable 145.48, her jump technique and lack of height is something that needs to be addressed soon if she hopes to contend for senior National medals and a junior World medal sometime in the next few years.

The Junior Grand Prix series continues next week in Gdansk, Poland, with American Samantha Cesario one of the gold medal favorites in the ladies event.

An uncanny resemblance

In my previous post, I touched briefly on how much Christina Gao resembles a young Michelle Kwan.

Michelle Kwan - 1995 Worlds Short Program


At age 14, the star quality was already evident in Kwan's skating. There is no doubt in my mind that she should have beaten Bobek for the bronze medal that year.

Christina Gao - 2009 Junior Grand Prix Final Short Program


Though still developing her style, one can see glimpses of star power in Gao's skating as well. With Brian Orser as her coach and a solid triple-triple combination under her belt, she's definitely one to watch this quadrennium.

Remember these names

Though the 2006-2010 quadrennium was a relatively disappointing one for U.S. ladies skaters, there does appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel. This past season, both Mirai Nagasu and Rachael Flatt proved that they can be competitive against the world's best. Here are four new fresh faces hoping to join them on the international scene and make their mark as the next generation.

Christina Gao

• 2009-10 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist
• 2010 U.S. Championships - 5th place

Gao has improved tremendously in the past year since working with Brian Orser, coach of Olympic champ Yu-Na Kim. In 2008, she was dead last in the novice ladies event at Nationals, and in 2009 she was only 3rd in the junior division with a lackluster free skate. Improved mental focus and better jump technique has propelled her to the top group as a junior internationally, as well as on the senior national stage. Her triple flip is one of the best in the world, and her solid triple toe-triple toe combination will be a key element as she hopes to continue her ascent up the rankings. Realistically, Gao has a fantastic shot at making the senior World team next season, especially since Sasha Cohen won't be back and if Flatt decides to focus on college. Her resemblance to a young Michelle Kwan is uncanny.

Agnes Zawadzki

• 2010 Junior World silver medalist
• 2010 U.S. junior National champion

After failing to make the U.S. Championships in 2009, Zawadzki rebounded in a big way this season, taking the U.S. junior title and winning the silver medal at the Junior World Championships last month -- her first-ever international event. Zawadzki is a complete skater, armed with huge jumps, high-scoring spins, solid edges and nice flexibility. Like Gao, she will definitely be contending for a senior national medal in 2011, and could very well find herself on the senior World team as well. By improving her speed and getting her triple flip under control, she will be a force to be reckoned with, both nationally and internationally.

Kiri Baga

• 2009 U.S. novice National champion
• 2-time Junior Grand Prix gold medalist
• 2010 U.S. junior National pewter medalist (4th)

Minnesota's own Kiri Baga had quite the breakthrough season in 2009-10. After winning the '09 novice National title, Baga competed internationally for the first time last fall, winning both of her Junior Grand Prix events before placing 7th at the final. A rough outing at Nationals this year left her in 4th place, but she redeemed herself at the Junior World Championships last month by placing 6th in a deep field. Baga has "future star" written all over her, and her charisma, style and attack is reminiscent of a young Sasha Cohen. She possesses every quality needed to be world champion. All she needs now is time mature and refine her skating, and develop consistency on the more difficult triples (the flip and the Lutz). Keep your eye on this one...

Samantha Cesario

• 2010 U.S. Championships - 15th
• 2010 Gardena Spring Trophy champion (junior)

Speaking of Cohen...it's no secret that young Samantha Cesario looks up to her. Gifted with beautiful lines, exquisite spins and an amazing on-ice presence, Cesario seems to have it all. However, under rotated jumps plagued her at many competitions last season, including the U.S. Championships where she was dinged on nearly every triple jump attempt. She finished 15th in her senior national debut in Spokane this year, but was able to successfully regroup for the Gardena Spring Trophy last week in Italy where she was given full credit for all of her triple jumps. If she continues to improve at that rapid rate over the summer, there's no stopping this girl.

Zawadzki emerges as legitimate world contender

American Agnes Zawadzki's silver medal at last week's World Junior Championships has put her at the center of the figure skating map.

Wait -- Agnes who?

Before this season, not many had heard of her. After winning the National pewter medal during the novice ladies event in 2008, Zawadzki relocated from Chicago to Colorado Springs where she trains under Tom Zakrajsek and alongside reigning U.S. senior champion Rachael Flatt. However, a sub-par short program at last season's Midwestern Sectional Championship left her off the podium and ended her 2009 Nationals bid.

Since then, Zawadzki has come back in a big, big way. She put up massive scores at numerous summer club competitions before winning her regional and sectional events and taking the junior National title two months ago in Spokane. She was clearly the class of the field there, winning both the short and long programs in convincing fashion. At the World Junior Championships last week in The Netherlands, a fall on her triple flip during the short program proved costly and left her in 8th place after that segment. Showing the attack and mental toughness of a seasoned pro, Zawadzki stormed back in the free skate, landing six triple jumps (including two solid triple Lutzes) en route to a silver medal finish. It was her first-ever international event.



Agnes has every single quality needed to be the next great American skater: solid jumps, fantastic spins, great flexibility, wonderful skating skills and a real on-ice presence -- not to mention nerves of steel. Her Lutzes and double Axels are huge; with a little work, I can see her easily tacking triple toe loops onto both.

While she may opt to compete on the Junior Grand Prix circuit next season, I think she could definitely be a contender on the Senior Grand Prix circuit. Additionally, she may find herself on the senior World team next season, especially if Flatt chooses to focus on college more so than skating. Zawadzki is already perhaps the third best ladies skater in the U.S., behind Mirai Nagasu and Flatt, and she will no doubt challenge for the National title next season.

If Nagasu and Zawadzki are the best U.S. ladies of the next quadrennium, I think the future is looking pretty bright. They could make a fantastic 1-2 punch.