World Figure Skating Championships

Schaller and Mayr miss out on the free skate

Sophia Schaller and Livio Mayr did not make it into the free skate.

(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

Figure skaters Sophia Schaller and Livio Mayr have been working towards this major event for a long time. At the World Championships in the Canadian metropolis of Montreal, however, it was not enough for the free skate. After the failed European Championships in January, however, it was a step in the right direction.

Hopes were high for figure skating pair Sophia Schaller and Livio Mayr ahead of the World Championships in Montreal (Can). After good training sessions, the pair from Salzburg were ready for the major event at the famous Bell Centre (the venue for the home games of the NHL's Canadiens de Montréal since 1996). In the short program, however, the two were unable to assert themselves and only managed 22nd place due to a fall. Anifer summed it up as follows: "Satisfied, of course it's a shame about the fall, but we were able to show improvement in all the other elements and have taken another step in the right direction."

But after the botched European Championships in January, where they only managed last place, the young pair took a step in the right direction. The season is now over with the World Championships, but the athletes do not have a long break. Because they are not losing sight of their big goal - the 2026 Olympic Games. "Next season is the decisive one, it's the first opportunity to qualify for the Olympics," says Mayr.

Schaller's friend eliminated
Things went worse for Schaller's friend John Crafoord in the short program at the World Championships in Canada, who competed with his sister Greta and finished second last. The two Swedes were also eliminated after the short program.