Today, March 26 at 17:15 Berlin time, a free live stream of figure skating will be available. Watch the women’s short program from Boston online.
The 114th Figure Skating World Championships kick off in Boston, USA, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. This is one of the key events of the season — and then, just around the corner, the Winter Olympics. The world’s top skaters have arrived in Massachusetts not only to compete for medals, but also to secure crucial Olympic qualification spots.
There will be 24 spots available in singles, 16 in pair skating, and 19 in ice dance. The remaining Olympic berths will be determined in September, during a final qualification tournament in Beijing, where Russian athletes are also expected to participate.
Team Germany: Hopes, Favorites, and a Missing Suitcase Drama
Germany will compete in three out of four disciplines. The team’s biggest stars are Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin, who have been nearly unbeatable this season. After winning the Grand Prix Final and being crowned 2025 European Champions, they’ve arrived in Boston well-prepared following a training camp in the U.S.
Minerva admits she feels the pressure of high expectations. She also misses her partner, professional basketball player Jonas Mattisseck, whom she calls her biggest support.
The second German pair, Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel, placed fifth at last year’s World Championships. However, their trip to Boston started with some stress: Annika’s suitcase with her skates and costume was lost at the airport. Due to post-9/11 restrictions, figure skaters are no longer allowed to carry skates in hand luggage on U.S.-bound flights. Thankfully, the situation was resolved in time.
Malinin: The Quad King; Starostin Under Pressure
The championship’s brightest star is Ilia Malinin (USA) — reigning world champion and master of all six types of quadruple jumps, including the iconic quad axel (4.5 rotations). Malinin continues to raise the bar, blending technical brilliance with growing artistry.
In contrast, Germany’s champion Nikita Starostin is struggling. He has yet to land a clean quad this season, has shown inconsistency with his triple axel, and has lost some of the elegance that once defined his skating. Still, qualifying for the final and securing an Olympic spot would be a major achievement for the 22-year-old.
Ice Dancers Chasing the Top 20
Jennifer Janse van Rensburg and Benjamin Steffan are Germany’s top ice dancers and are aiming to break into the top 20 to qualify for the Olympics. Despite challenges with training — including rink renovations in their hometown of Oberstdorf and the need to adjust choreography to the narrower American rinks — the pair remains focused and determined.
