Which skaters are fancied to win medals at the 2024 European Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania, from 10–13 January? Discover how to follow the action.
4 minBy ZK Goh
Figure Skating
Some 167 figure skaters will be in action this week in Kaunas, Lithuania, at the 2024 ISU European Figure Skating Championships.
The Žalgiris Arena in the Lithuanian capital will host the skaters from 8–14 January, with competition taking place from 10–13 January. They will compete across the four usual categories: men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance.
No skaters from Russia or Belarus will be competing, with the International Skating Union's ongoing suspension of skaters representing those member federations still in place.
Defending champions Adam Siao Him Fa, Anastasiia Gubanova, Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii, and Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri will all be in action as they seek to retain their titles.
Scroll down to find out the skaters to keep an eye on.
Stars to watch at 2024 European Figure Skating Championships
France's Siao Him Fa has had a real breakthrough season following his triumph in Finland last January. At the Grand Prix de France in November, Siao Him Fa became the sixth man under the current ISU Judging System to join the 100–200–300 club: a 100-point short program, 200-point free skate, and 300-point total score.
Other men who could make a splash include Siao Him Fa's teammate Kévin Aymoz, who was the only other European aside from Siao Him Fa to qualify for this season's Grand Prix Final; Italy's Matteo Rizzo, who claimed Grand Prix bronze at the Skate Canada International; and Lukas Britschgi of Switzerland, the NHK Trophy bronze medallist.
Gubanova might be the defending women's champion, but a below-par Grand Prix season – the Georgian finished sixth in both her competitions – means she is arguably an outsider in Kaunas.
Belgium's Loena Hendrickx will be in the hunt for her first European title after two strong seasons on the Grand Prix circuit and finishing third at last year's World Championships. Her teammate Nina Pinzarrone has also been a revelation this season, winning two Grand Prix medals and finishing fourth at the Grand Prix Final.
In pairs, Conti and Macii missed December's national championships due to the former suffering a cold, and the Italians head into these European Championships knowing they face a stiff test. They were beaten into second place at the Grand Prix Final by Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin with the Germans collecting a string of wins in their first international season together.
The other German pair of Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel also have a Grand Prix win to their name this season, while the Italian champions Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini have been around the scene for a few years now and will also fancy their chances at making the podium.
Guignard and Fabbri are one of the veteran teams in ice dance, and the Grand Prix Final silver medallists are favourites to retain their title. Great Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson, last year's European runners-up, have two Grand Prix podiums including a win this season and should push the Italians close.
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Schedule and timings for figure skating 2024 European Championships
All times local Eastern European Time (UTC +2 hours) and subject to change
Wednesday 10 January
- 13:00–15:56 – Short program pairs
- 17:15–21:49 – Short program men
Thursday 11 January
- 13:15–17:55 – Short program women
- 19:00–21:50 – Free skating pairs followed by victory ceremony
Friday 12 January
- 12:00–16:57 – Rhythm dance
- 18:00–21:52 – Free skating men followed by victory ceremony
Saturday 13 January
- 13:00–16:52 – Free skating women followed by victory ceremony
- 18:30–21:50 – Free dance followed by victory ceremony
Sunday 14 January
- 15:30–18:00 – Exhibition gala
Where to watch European Figure Skating Championships 2024
The ISU YouTube channel will carry a live stream of all sessions from Kaunas, subject to territorial restrictions.
In Europe, the competition will be available to watch on Eurosport and some national broadcasters, while NBC holds the rights in the United States – check local listings and Peaco*ck for more information.
Australian fans can watch on SBS On Demand.
