Nikolaj Sørensen

Nikolaj Sørensen[2] (born 18 February 1989) is a Danish ice dancer, who currently competes for Canada with his partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry. Together they are the 2019 Canadian national bronze medalists.

Nikolaj Sørensen
Fournier Beaudry and Sørensen at the 2019 Skate America
Personal information
Country representedCanada[1]
Former country(ies) representedDenmark
Born (1989-02-18) 18 February 1989
Copenhagen, Denmark
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
PartnerLaurence Fournier Beaudry
Former partnerKatelyn Good, Lili Lamar, Barbora Heroldová, Anna Thomsen
CoachMarie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer
Former coachPascal Denis, David Blazek, Mathew Gates
ChoreographerMarie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon
Former choreographerGinette Cournoyer
Skating clubTown of Mount Royal FSC
Former skating clubRødovre Skating and Ice hockey Club
Training locationsMontreal
Former training locationsOberstdorf
Copenhagen
Began skating1996
ISU personal best scores
Combined total201.00
2019 Nebelhorn Trophy
Short dance81.16
2019 Nebelhorn Trophy
Free dance119.84
2019 Nebelhorn Trophy

Fournier Beaudry and Sørensen previously competed for Denmark, winning six ISU Challenger Series medals and representing Denmark at the World and European championships.[3] In March 2018, Denmark released them to compete for Canada.[1]

Early career

Sørensen began learning to skate in 1996, at his father's instigation.[4] He competed internationally with Anne Thomsen beginning in 2003. They placed twenty-fourth at the 2006 World Junior Championships.

In 2007, Sørensen teamed up with Czech skater Barbora Heroldová to compete for Denmark. They competed one season together, placing twenty-first at the 2008 World Junior Championships.

In 2009, Sørensen began competing with Canadian skater Katelyn Good for Denmark. In their first season together, they won the Danish senior national title, placed seventeenth at 2010 World Junior Championships, twenty-first at the 2010 European Championships, and twenty-fourth at the 2010 World Championships. The following season, they decided to move from training in the United States under Mathew Gates to Montreal in order to be near Good's mother. On Gates' recommendation they began training under Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, whose just-opened ice dance academy had only four teams at the time. Shortly after the move, Good's mother died. Sørensen and Good placed twenty-ninth at the 2011 World Championships, in what was their final performance together, as Good chose to retire due to injury.[4]

In 2012, Sørensen began skating with Canadian skater Vanessa Crone, but she decided not to compete with him.[5]

Partnership with Fournier Beaudry

Sørensen had a tryout with another Canadian, Laurence Fournier Beaudry of Quebec, in February 2012.[5] He decided to team up with Crone, but called Fournier Beaudry five months later, shortly after Crone's decision not to compete with him.[5] Fournier Beaudry and Sørensen decided to represent Denmark while continuing to train in Canada under Dubreuil and Lauzon.

2013–2014 season

Making their international competition debut in the fall of 2013, they won gold at the 2013 Pavel Roman Memorial, silver at the 2013 Ice Challenge, and bronze at the Toruń Cup. At the 2014 Danish Championships, they were the only competitors in ice dance.[6]

In their ISU Championship debut, they placed thirteenth at the 2014 European Championships, and concluded the season placing twenty-ninth at the 2014 World Championships in Saitama.

2014–2015 season

The duo competed in three ISU Challenger Series events at the beginning of the season, placing fourth at the Volvo Open Cup, repeating as silver medalists at the Ice Challenge, and earning a bronze medal at the 2014 Autumn Classic. They were again the only competitors at the Danish Championships' ice dance event.[7]

At their second European Championships, they placed ninth. At the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai, they placed eleventh.

2015–2016 season

Beginning the season again on the Challenger Series, Fournier Beaudry and Sørensen won the silver medal at the 2015 U.S. International Classic and the bronze medal at the Finlandia Trophy. Making their Grand Prix debut, they placed seventh at the 2015 Skate Canada International.

Fournier Beaudry and Sørensen placed ninth at Europeans for the second consecutive year, and finished with a thirteenth-place finish at the 2016 World Championships in Boston.

2016–2017 season

On the Challenger Series, Fournier Beaudry and Sørensen won their second bronze medal at the Autumn Classic International, and placed fourth at the Finlandia Trophy. Given two Grand Prix assignments, they placed seventh at both Skate Canada International and the Rostelecom Cup.

The duo placed seventh at Europeans. They went on to place thirteenth at the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. Due to their result, Denmark qualified a spot in the ice dancing event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

2017–2018 season

They took part in three Challenger Series events, placing fourth at the 2015 U.S. International Classic, seventh at the Autumn Classic International, and winning a second bronze medal at the Finlandia Trophy. At their sole Grand Prix event for the season, the 2017 NHK Trophy, Fournier Beaudry and Sørensen placed fifth. Appearing at their third and final Danish Championships, they were again the only competitors in senior ice dance.[8]

For much of the preceding years, Fournier Beaudry's citizenship status had dogged the team, as Danish law required seven years' residency for naturalization, and ultimately no allowance could be made. As a result, they were unable to take part in the Olympics despite having qualified a spot there.[9] Following the 2018 European Championships, where they placed ninth, the two reassessed their options, and decided to switch countries and compete for Canada. In March 2018, Denmark released them for that purpose.[1] Speaking of the challenges later, Sørensen remarked that they had been welcomed by the Canadian federation, and that the Danish federation had always been supportive his years of training in Canada had already made him as much Canadian as Danish, and stated that he hoped to acquire Canadian citizenship by 2020.[9]

2018–2019 season

For the rhythm dance, Fournier Beaudry chose Adiós Nonino, creating a cut of different instrumental and lyrical versions. She and Sørensen opted to retain their free program from the previous season, revised for the ISU's new rules. Sørensen remarked that it "is a transitional year with a lot of new feelings and a lot of new challenges, so it was natural to keep something familiar around." ISU rules required that a team switching countries sit out international competition for a year from their last international appearance, meaning they were ineligible for the Challenger and Grand Prix series.[4]

In their first competition of the season, the 2019 Skate Canada Challenge, the duo placed first in both programs, qualifying for the 2019 Canadian Championships.[10] At the Canadian Championships, they placed third and were named to the team for the 2019 Four Continents Championships and 2019 World Championships.[11] They placed sixth at Four Continents, and tenth at the World Championships.

2019–2020 season

For their first event of the season, Fournier Beaudry/Sørensen won the silver medal at the Lombardia Trophy. They followed this with a gold medal at the Nebelhorn Trophy, their first Challenger title, increasing their personal best score by over ten points.[12] Returning to the Grand Prix after a season away, the placed third in the rhythm dance at the 2019 Skate America, becoming one of the first teams to earn a perfect Level 4 on the Finnstep pattern dance.[13] They placed third in the free dance as well, winning the bronze medal. Sørensen called their first Grand Prix medal "something that we've dreamed about since we started skating together."[14] At their second event, the 2019 Cup of China, they were again third in the rhythm dance, and the only team at the event to earn a Level 4 on the Finnstep.[15] Third as well in the free dance, despite some minor issues resulting in a lower score than at previous events, they won their second Grand Prix bronze. Sørensen explained afterward that a knee injury had caused him to miss a week of training in between events.[16]

Fournier Beaudry/Sørensen did not compete at the 2020 Canadian Championships, due to the latter undergoing a cartilage graft and a meniscotomy to repair his knee.[17] On February 13, 2020, Skate Canada announced that they had been assigned to compete at the 2020 World Championships.[18] On March 6, 2020, they withdrew from the World Championships due to Sørensen's incomplete recovery; the championships themselves were cancelled five days later.[19][20]

2020–2021 season

Fournier Beaudry/Sørensen were assigned to the 2020 Skate Canada International, but the event was cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.[21]

With the pandemic continuing to make in-person competitions difficult, Fournier Beaudry/Sørensen competed at virtual domestic competitions, winning the Quebec Sectionals and then taking the silver medal at the 2021 Skate Canada Challenge. The 2021 Canadian Championships were subsequently cancelled.[22][23]

Programs

With Fournier Beaudry

Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2020–2021
[24]
2019–2020
[25]
2018–2019
[26]
  • Spanish Caravan
    by The Doors
  • Hush
    performed by Marcin Patrzalek
  • Asturias
    performed by Marcin Patrzalek
2017–2018
[27]
  • Spanish Caravan
    by The Doors
  • Hush
    performed by Marcin Patrzalek
  • Asturias
    performed by Marcin Patrzalek
2016–2017
[28]
2015–2016
[29][30]
2014–2015
[31]
  • Flamenco: Malagueña
    performed by Montana Skies
  • Paso doble: Malagueña
    performed by Klaus Hallen Dance Orchestra
2013–2014
[32]
  • Foxtrot: All Of Me
    by Frank Sinatra
  • Quickstep: I Never Knew
    by Frank Sinatra
  • Foxtrot: All Of Me
    by Frank Sinatra

With Good

Season Short dance Free dance
2010–2011
[33]
  • La Del Ruso
    by Gotan Project
  • Amor Perteno
    by Gotan Project
  • Peligro
    by Gotan Project
  • Differente
    by Gotan Project
Original dance
2009–2010
[34]
Danish folk dance
  • Waltz
  • Polka

With Heroldová

Season Original dance Free dance
2007–2008
[35]
Danish folk dance
  • Mikalas Vals
    (from Lige for Tiden 2)
    by Janet Vahl
  • Dug-Kalo
    (from Lige for Tiden)
    by H. Haugaard, J. V. Petersen
  • St. Patrick (Angelus)
    by Ronan Hardiman
  • The Vikings
    by Ronan Hardiman
  • Celtic Kittens
    by Ronan Hardiman

With Thomsen

Season Original dance Free dance
2006–2007
[36]
2005–2006
[37][38]
  • Harem
    by Frederico de Brito
2004–2005
[39]
  • Slow foxtrot: Do Nothin' Till you Hear from Me
    by Duke Ellington, Bob Russel
  • Charleston: The Muppet Show Theme

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

For Canada

International[3]
Event 18–19 19–20 20–21
Worlds10thWD
Four Continents6th
GP Cup of China3rd
GP Skate America3rd
GP Skate CanadaC
CS Lombardia Trophy2nd
CS Nebelhorn Trophy1st
National[3]
Canadian Champ.3rdWD
SC Challenge1st2nd
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Event cancelled

For Denmark

International[3]
Event 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18
Worlds29th11th13th13th
Europeans18th9th9th7th9th
GP NHK Trophy5th
GP Rostelecom Cup7th
GP Skate Canada7th7th
CS Autumn Classic3rd3rd7th
CS Finlandia Trophy3rd4th3rd
CS Ice Challenge2nd
CS U.S. Classic2nd4th
CS Volvo Open Cup4th
Ice Challenge2nd
Pavel Roman1st
Toruń Cup3rd
National[3]
Danish Champ.1st1st1st

With Good

Good/Sørensen at the 2011 World Championships
International[40]
Event 09–10 10–11
World Champ.24th29th
European Champ.21st
Finlandia Trophy9th
Nebelhorn Trophy14th
International: Junior[40]
Junior Worlds17th
JGP Turkey12th
JGP United States9th
National[40]
Danish Champ.1st

With Heroldová

International[41]
Event 07–08
Junior Worlds21st
JGP Austria14th
JGP United Kingdom17th
Pavel Roman Memorial11th J
National[41]
Danish Champ.1st J
J = Junior level

With Thomsen

International[42]
Event 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07
Junior Worlds24th
JGP Bulgaria14th
JGP Czech Republic13th
JGP Germany15th
JGP Poland15th
Nordics1st J
Pavel Roman2nd N8th J9th J
Levels: N = Novice; J = Junior

Detailed results

With Fournier Beaudry for Canada

Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals awarded for team results only. Current ISU personal bests highlighted in bold.

2020–2021 season
Date Event SP FS Total
8–17 January 2021 2021 Skate Canada Challenge 2
86.55
2
120.36
2
206.91
2019–20 season
Date Event RD FD Total
November 8–10, 2019 2019 Cup of China 3
78.41
3
112.33
3
190.74
October 18–20, 2019 2019 Skate America 3
79.17
3
118.36
3
197.53
September 25–28, 2019 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 1
81.16
1
119.84
1
201.00
September 13–15, 2019 2019 CS Lombardia Trophy 2
79.11
2
110.25
2
189.36
2018–19 season
Date Event RD FD Total
March 18–24, 2019 2019 World Championships 10
74.76
9
113.34
10
188.10
February 7–10, 2019 2019 Four Continents Championships 6
73.70
6
113.61
6
186.91
January 13–20, 2019 2019 Canadian Championships 3
79.41
3
119.00
3
198.41

References

  1. "Press Release". Dansk Skøjte Union (DSU). March 1, 2018.
  2. "Danmarksmesterskaber og Ungdomskonkurrence 2014: Senior Isdans" [2014 Danish Championships: Senior ice dancing] (in Danish). Danish Skating Union. 8 December 2013.
  3. "Competition Results: Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Nikolaj SORENSEN". International Skating Union.
  4. Russell, Susan (November 26, 2018). "Fournier-Beaudry-Sørensen dance under the Maple Leaf". International Figure Skating.
  5. Tone, Florentina (March 28, 2017). "Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sørensen: "We're in it for the long haul"". insideskating.net.
  6. "2013–14 Danish Championships". Danish Skating Union. 2 December 2013.
  7. "2014–15 Danish Championships". Danish Skating Union. 6 December 2014.
  8. "2017–18 Danish Championships". Danish Skating Union. 3 December 2017.
  9. Bergeron, Alain (November 17, 2018). "De Copenhague à Longueuil". Le Journal de Quebec.
  10. Skate Canada (December 2, 2018). "Senior ice dance, senior women and junior men winners" (Instagram).
  11. Curley, Sean (January 20, 2019). "Weaver and Poje win third national ice dance title". Golden Skate.
  12. "Canada's Fournier-Beaudry, Sorensen take ice dance title at Nebelhorn Trophy". CBC Sports. September 28, 2019.
  13. Slater, Paula (October 19, 2019). "Hubbell and Donohue: 'We have so much progress to make'". Golden Skate.
  14. Slater, Paula (October 20, 2019). "Hubbell and Donohue win second consecutive Skate America gold". Golden Skate.
  15. Slater, Paula (November 8, 2019). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov lead after Rhythm Dance at Cup of China". Golden Skate.
  16. Slater, Paula (November 9, 2019). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov take first Grand Prix gold at Cup of China". Golden Skate.
  17. Sørensen, Nikolaj (January 8, 2020). "Nationals is already next week!🇨🇦 . Unfortunately Lolo and I wont be there..." (Instagram).
  18. "Nam Nguyen added to Canada's world championship figure skating team". Vancouver Courier. February 13, 2020.
  19. Skate Canada [@SkateCanada] (March 6, 2020). "#Montreal2020 announcement: Ice dancers Laurence Fournier Beaudry & Nikolaj Sorensen have withdrawn from the world championships due to Nikolaj recovering from surgery" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  20. Ewing, Lori (March 11, 2020). "World figure skating championships cancelled in Montreal". CBC Sports.
  21. "Skate Canada International in Ottawa cancelled as COVID-19 cases rise". CBC Sports. October 14, 2020.
  22. Ewing, Lori (January 16, 2021). "Madeline Schizas moves up 3 spots to win virtual Skate Canada Challenge". CBC Sports.
  23. "2021 Skate Canada Challenge – Results". Skate Canada.
  24. "Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020.
  25. "Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 15, 2019.
  26. "Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019.
  27. "Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017.
  28. "Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  29. Thayer, Jacquelyn (June 22, 2015). "Fournier Beaudry and Sørensen Break New Ground". ice-dance.com.
  30. "Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.
  31. "Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 20, 2015.
  32. "Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  33. "Katelyn GOOD / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011.
  34. "Katelyn GOOD / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 9 July 2010.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  35. "Barbora HEROLDOVA / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  36. "Anna THOMSEN / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 13 August 2007.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  37. "Anna THOMSEN / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 21 April 2006.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  38. Mittan, Barry (16 August 2006). "Dancing Danes". Skate Today.
  39. "Anna THOMSEN / Nikolaj SORENSEN: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 4 April 2005.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  40. "Competition Results: Katelyn GOOD / Nikolaj SORENSEN". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 30 November 2013.
  41. "Competition Results: Barbora HEROLDOVA / Nikolaj SORENSEN". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
  42. "Anna THOMSEN / Nikolaj SORENSEN". International Skating Union.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.