Czisny Wins Ladies Title at US Figure Skating Championships

The temperature may be hovering below freezing in Cleveland, but the atmosphere in Quicken Loans Arena was anything but frosty Saturday night for the Championship Ladies Free Skate. A near-capacity crowd watched as 21-year-old, Ohio native, Alissa Czisny won the competition over two up-and-coming skaters—16-year-old Rachael Flatt and 15-year-old Caroline Zhang.

Czisny wasn’t perfect. She won the short program and placed third in the free skate, but her elegant lines and graceful style won the appreciation of the well-versed spectators as did her stellar performance after finishing ninth in last year’s competition. Also impressive, if somewhat raw, was Flatt’s performance in the free skate. The long-legged teenager hasn’t received the press attention that her competitors have, but she seamlessly combined athleticism and grace. She’s sure to be someone to watch as we approach the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

The US Figure Skating Championships conclude on Sunday with the men’s free skate in the afternoon and the Smucker’s Skating Spectacular exhibition in the evening. If you happen to be in Cleveland, tickets are still available to both events. Otherwise, the men’s competition is being televised on NBC.

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