Emotional Triumph at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships
BOSTON — In a heartwarming display of talent and emotion, Misha Mitrofanov released Alisa Efimova from his embrace and spun her around to face the roaring crowd at TD Garden. The audience erupted in applause as they witnessed a moment that transcended mere competition. Efimova, overwhelmed by the support, covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes glistening with tears of joy.
Their performance on Thursday during the figure skating world championships was nothing short of spectacular, embodying the flawless execution they had envisioned and hoped for — all in front of their hometown fans. Efimova and Mitrofanov, the pride of the Skating Club of Boston, achieved a remarkable score of 135.59 in the free skate, marking the best score of the day at that moment. More significantly, it was a remarkable recovery from their ninth-place finish in Wednesday’s short program.
As they awaited their scores, Efimova and Mitrofanov took a moment to honor the memory of their skate club’s community, which has faced immense loss. They held up photos of beloved members from the Skating Club of Boston who tragically lost their lives in the American Airlines plane crash in Washington, D.C., on January 29.
“It feels like a family,” Mitrofanov expressed, emphasizing the unity they have cultivated during this challenging time. “We’ve all come together.”
While their score was initially the highest of the day, it was eventually surpassed by three other pairs in the competition. Ultimately, Efimova and Mitrofanov finished with the fourth-best score of the day and secured sixth place overall with a total of 199.29 points in the pairs event, marking the highest finish for any American duo.
The gold medal was claimed by Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan, who delivered a breathtaking performance that concluded the evening’s competition. Initially, Kihara appeared stunned as the video board revealed their free skate had been ranked No. 2. However, their coach, Bruno Marcotte, quickly reassured them, correcting the misunderstanding as he calculated the scores in real-time.
- “You got it. You got it,” he urged, as they watched the screen with anticipation.
When the final results were unveiled, their combined score of 219.79 points, which included their top-ranked short program performance, secured them the coveted gold medal. After winning gold in 2023 and then silver in 2024, Miura and Kihara had reclaimed their position at the pinnacle of the sport.
Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany captured the silver medal with a score of 219.08 points, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the energized audience. Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolo Macci took home the bronze with a total of 210.47 points.
American skaters Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, ranked fifth going into the competition, concluded their journey with a seventh-place finish, scoring 195.38 points. However, it was the electrifying performance of Efimova and Mitrofanov that truly resonated with the American crowd. The pair erupted in joy, celebrating their routine with screams and triumphant fist pumps, only for the emotional weight of the moment to hit Efimova as they embraced their accomplishment.
Their sixth-place finish not only highlighted their talent but also helped the United States provisionally qualify three pairs for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan, a feat not achieved since the 1994 Games in Lillehammer, Norway.
(Photo of Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov: Geoff Robins / AFP via Getty Images)
