Following the conclusion of the international competition in Oberstdorf on Sunday, it was determined that Hungary will have representatives in women and men’s singles as well as pairs at the World Junior Championships in Debrecen this February.
The task seemed almost impossible, but Mózes József Berei and his new partner, Lily Wilberforce, made it happen!
Csaba Bálint, Figure Skating Sports Director at the Hungarian National Skating Federation, explained what exactly they accomplished:
“At the Ostrava Junior Grand Prix event, Pepe Berei was still competing with his previous partner but after the competition they decided to part ways. We needed to find a new partner for Pepe—someone who matched him in weight, height, and, of course, skill. We found that in Lily Wilberforce. Their trial skate went well, and under the guidance of Kiefer Severin, the two young skaters embarked on what seemed impossible: to put together a short program and a free skate in just two months and perform them at the Oberstdorf competition while achieving the minimum score required to qualify for the World Junior Championships. This was their only opportunity to do so, and they seized it. This means that they will take to the ice at the World Junior Championships in Debrecen’s Főnix Arena.”
In the categories of women and men, the final ranking for World Junior Championships participation was determined at the National Figure Skating and Ice Dance Championships, held on January 18-19, 2025, for junior and youth skaters.
In the women’s field, Polina Dzsumanyijazova will compete at the World Junior Championships—the young figure skater, who trains in Moscow, has been working hard to prepare and has put in a lot of effort to achieve a strong performance.
For the men’s event, Aleksei Vlasenko was the only Hungarian skater to achieve the required score for qualification, meaning he will be present in Debrecen.
“At the start of the season, we introduced the so-called ‘Hungarian ranking,’ which provides an objective measurement. Unlike previous practices, where only results from designated competitions counted, skaters could now earn points at any competition, allowing them to tailor their participation to their training needs.”
Although the World Junior Championships are still almost a month away, Sports Director Csaba Bálint shared his expectations for the Hungarian competitors in Debrecen:
“I believe that if Polina can bring out everything she is capable of and skates flawlessly, she can finish in the top ten—her skill level certainly warrants that. From Aleksei, I want to see not just a strong short program but also a free skate in Debrecen. Pepe Berei and his partner delivered an excellent performance in Oberstdorf but it’s difficult to estimate their place in the field based on just one competition. For them, the goal at Junior Worlds should be to skate a program that demonstrates their continued progress.”
