These teams range in age from 14 to 21. One has a Grand Prix Final medal and one has a Junior Grand Prix Final medal from last season. They won 4 gold medals, 4 silvers and 2 bronzes on the circuit this season.
Sui and Han kicked off their season with a win in Latvia and again in Austria with a 15 point increase in their score. They are capable of quad throws and twists, but a mistake on their quad throw on the Grand Prix cost them a medal and a spot in the Grand Prix Final. They have the best short program, free skate and total score of the season.
Yu and Jin won silver behind Sui and Han at both Latvia and Austria and also increased their score by 15 points between events. They have the 2nd best short program, free skate and total score of the season.
Petaikina and Kurduykov finished 4th in Latvia but improved to the bronze medal after increasing their score by 17 points in Austria. While their places don't seem to be impressive, they were in tough fields and their scores put them among the best. They have the 6th best short program, 4th best free skate and total score of the season.
Tudvaseva and Lisiev are replacing Calalang and Sidhu who withdrew due to injury. They started their season with a 5th place finish in Latvia, but quickly rebounded to the bronze medal in Poland. They have the 10th best short program of the season.
Simpson and Blackmer won the gold medal in their debut in Poland and were the first USA team to win JGP gold since 2007. They followed it up with a silver medal in Estonia. They have the 5th best short program, free skate and total score of the season.
Bobak and Beharry made their debut in Poland and took home the silver medal. They improved by 17 points in Estonia to take home the gold medal. They have come from behind with their free skates several times, so it is often their short program which will determine how high they can climb in the free skate and what medal they can grab. They have the 4th best short program, 3rd best free skate and total score of the season.
My podium predictions:
Gold: Sui/Han
Silver: Yu/Jin
Bronze: Simpson/Blackmer
Bios of the competitors in qualification order:
Sui/Han, CHN: They are the 2010 and 2011 World Junior Champions. They won silver at Skate Canada and placed 5th at Cup of China. They won gold at JGP Latvia and Austria. They qualified for the GPF last season and won bronze. They qualified for the JGPF last season, but withdrew to focus on the senior competition. Their personal best is 180.82. She is 16 and he is 19.
Simpson/Blackmer, USA: They won gold at their international debut at JGP Poland and silver at JGP Estonia. Their personal best is 141.42. She is 15 and he is 19.
Bobak/Beharry, CAN: They won silver at their JGP debut in Poland and gold at JGP Estonia. Their personal best is 147.72. She is 17 and he is 20.
Yu/Jin, CHN: They finished 7th in their Grand Prix debut, Skate Canada. They took home the silver from JGP Latvia and Austria. They qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final last season and won bronze. Their personal best is 158.36. She is 15 and he is 17.
Petaikina/Kurduykov, RUS: They finished 4th at JGP Latvia and won bronze at JGP Austria. Their personal best is 144.47. She is 16 and he is 21.
Tudvaseva/Lisiev, RUS: They finished 5th at their JGP debut in Latvia and won bronze at JGP Poland. Their personal best is 129.35. She is 14 and he is 18.
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