Three years before the Olympics, Colorado Springs gets a possible preview of the U.S. Olympic team at the Four Continents Championships, which run Wednesday through Saturday at the World Arena.
Newly crowned U.S. champions Evan Lysacek and Kimmie Meissner join Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, the Olympic silver medalist ice dancers, in headlining the strongest international field in the Four Continents’ nine-year history.
Meissner, 17, the defending world champion, goes against world runner-up Fumie Suguri of Japan along with Canadian champion Joannie Rochette and Emily Hughes, the American runner-up and fellow Olympian. Also in the field will be Alissa Czisny, who topped Meissner and Hughes in the free skate at the U.S. Nationals two weeks ago in Spokane, Wash.
Lysacek, who unseated three- time U.S. champion Johnny Weir at the nationals, goes against Canadian champion Jeffrey Buttle, the Olympic bronze medalist. Also competing will be Ryan Bradley, a CU-Colorado Springs junior who was the surprise silver medalist at the nationals, and fourth-place Jeremy Abbott, an Aspen native.
Highlighting the pairs will be Qing Pang and Jian Tong, the defending world champions, who upset Olympic silver medalists Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang of China in Calgary, Alberta.
The Chinese will face new American champions Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski and the second-place team they upset, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin.
Belbin and Agosto, bronze medalists at the worlds, face Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, who won silver at worlds for Canada.
Four Continents attracts the top skaters from North America, Asia, Australia and Africa and is a preview to the world championships, March 19-25 in Tokyo.
Four Continents
Where: World Arena, Colorado Springs
Tickets: $5-$30; all-event tickets, $119 or $153
Info: 719-576-2626 or www.ticketswest.com
SCHEDULE
Wednesday: Compulsory dance, 11:30 a.m.; pairs short program, 3 p.m.; men’s short program, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday: Original dance, 11:30 a.m.; pairs final, 3 p.m.; women’s short program, 6:30 p.m.
Friday: Free dance, 2 p.m.; men’s final, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday: Women’s final, 11:30 a.m.; exhibition, 7 p.m.
John Henderson can be reached at 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
