Finishing 11th a win for Daleman
SAITAMA, JAPAN— Canada's Gabrielle Daleman finished11th on Friday at the World Figure Skating Championships.
But the 21-year-old from Newmarket, who has missed time the past two years while dealing with mental health issues, is proud of her performance.
“The most important thing that I learned this season is that no matter what life throws at me I always rise at the end,” she said.
“That’s exactly what I’m proving here. I had the worst two years of my life and to be here and get a top-12 finish means the world to me.” Daleman won the bronze medal at the 2017 worlds. She is hopeful she is on track to return to her previous form.
“I view this free skate as such a success,” Daleman said. “Yes the last half wasn’t the best for me. Still, I’m very excited with how I carried the program.”
Olympic champion Alina Zagitova of Russia won the gold medal with Rika Kihira of Japan second and two-time world champion Evgenia Medvedeva of Russia third.
Meanwhile, Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, were fifth after the short dance.
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Toronto were eighth, while Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen of Montreal were 10th.
Defending champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France were first, followed by Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov of Russia second and compatriots Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin.
“It was a magical experience out there but not perfect,” said Weaver.