Marigold IceUnity: 2014 World Champions

The 2014 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships wrapped up today in Italy, with some familiar names landing on the podium. Finland 1 (Marigold IceUnity) were gold medalists after last medaling in 2011. Canada 1 (NEXXICE) won the silver medal for the third straight year, narrowly edging out Finland 2 (Rockettes), who won bronze after not qualifying for the event last year. All three teams skated clean in both segments, and were the only teams to get all of their technical calls in the short or the free.

Complete results are available here.

Some other fun facts about the 2014 Worlds podium:

  • 2011 was the last time two Finnish teams medaled, and it was also the last time Rockettes or Marigold won medals. They were 1st and 2nd, respectively that year (and the year before).
  • This was the first time since 2011 the Champions also won both the short and the free.
  • This was the first time all the teams on the podium are former World Champions. Marigold were also champions in 2002, 2004, and 2006. NEXXICE were champions in 2009. And Rockettes were champions in 2008, 2010, and 2011.
  • This was the first time since 2009 the Haydenettes, or any American team, did not received a medal.
  • There has never been an American team on the podium when Marigold has won gold.
  • This was the first time since 2009 the bronze medal has gone to a country other than the USA.
  • This was the first time NEXXICE and Marigold stood on the podium together at a World Championship.
  • The last time Marigold stood on the podium with a Canadian team was in 2003, with Les Supremes.
  • The last time Rockettes were on the podium with a Canadian team was in 2008, with NEXXICE.
  • This was the first time the podium was made up of two Finnish teams and one Canadian team.
  • Every time there has been two Finnish teams on the podium, those teams are Marigold and Rockettes.
  • This was the third straight year the gold medalists were not on the podium the year before. Marigold finished 4th in 2013.
  • This was the first time since 2009 the previous year’s gold medalists were not present. Rockettes won in 2008 but didn’t qualify in 2009, while Team Unique won in 2013 but didn’t qualify in 2014.
  • This was the third straight year at least one of the medalists did not medal the year before.
  • NEXXICE is the first team to win the silver medal three times consecutively. Finland has won three consecutive silver medals, but not with the same team each time.
  • The last time the medalists were also the top three teams in both the short and the free (in any order) was waaayyyy back in 2005. From 2006-13, at least one medalist was not in the top three in one of the short or the free.
  • The last time Marigold won gold was 2006. Rockettes also won bronze that year. Marigold and Rockettes were also the gold and bronze medalists in 2004. In 2004 and 2006, Team Surprise won the silver medal.
  • This was the first time that when Marigold won gold, Team Surprise were not the silver medalists.

Congratulations to all of the teams who competed at Worlds. See you in Hamilton!

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