Hubbell and Donohue claim Skate America crown with help from Romeo and Juliet
BySportsbeat
Published 22/10/2018 at 11:16 GMT
Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue may have taken inspiration from Romeo and Juliet, but their Skate America campaign ended in anything but tragedy as they claimed a first free dance Grand Prix title in Everett, Washington.
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The American pair dazzled the judges with a scintillating performance that left them eight points ahead of Italians Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri with a score of 122.39 and claim USA’s 10th straight ice dance title at the event.
The American free dance champions and 2018 World Championship silver medallists opted for a softer romantic tone to their performance and chose the soundtrack of 1996 blockbuster Romeo and Juliet to underpin their routine.
"We've never portrayed a well-known story, so for us to have that opportunity, that's something new for us that we've always wanted to do," Donohue reflected.
"Madi always loved this song, and it was our coach, Romain (Haguenauer), who said, 'Why not Romeo and Juliet?'"
"When I watch the Clare Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio, I'm not thinking, 'Oh, they're such cute little kids,’" Hubbell said.
"They have quite a lust for each other. There have been a million beautiful Romeo and Juliet interpretations, but I think there is something special Zach and I can bring to this piece, with the raw emotion and the absolute intensity that goes into dying for the person you love."
Americans Lorraine McNamara and Quinn Carpenter claimed bronze at the event, while Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson secured an impressive fifth place finish at the first ISU Grand Prix of the year.
Meanwhile Satoko Miyahara secured her first Grand Prix title of her career in the ladies free skating final after narrowly missing out on a bronze medal at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
The 20-year-old Japanese skater blew away the field to edge out compatriot Kaori Sakamoto into second with a stunning score of 145.85 at Washington.
While 16-year-old Russian prodigy Sofia Samodurova took bronze in Washington.
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