Evelyn Walsh

Evelyn Walsh
Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud on the 2018 Skate America
Born (2001-07-08) July 8, 2001 (age 22)
Seaforth, Ontario, Canada
Height164 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Figure skating career
CountryCanada
Began skating2003
RetiredAugust 5, 2022
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Figure skating: Pairs
Four Continents Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Tallinn Pairs

Evelyn Walsh (born July 8, 2001) is a Canadian former competitive pair skater. With Trennt Michaud, she is the 2022 Four Continents bronze medalist and a three-time Canadian national silver medalist.

Earlier in their career, Walsh/Michaud won the 2017 Canadian national junior title and competed at two World Junior Championships, achieving their highest placement, fifth, in 2017.

Personal life

Evelyn Walsh was born on July 8, 2001, in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.[1] She grew up in Seaforth, Ontario, and attended St. James Catholic Elementary School before moving to London. She is the daughter of Jayne (Delaney), a secondary school teacher, and Brad Walsh, a retired elementary school teacher.[2] She attended St. Andre Bessette Catholic Secondary School in London, Ontario.[3]

While training as a competitive figure skater, Walsh attended Wilfrid Laurier University. Following her retirement, she transferred to the University of Western Ontario, where she also participated in varsity figure skating.[4]

Career

Early years

Walsh started learning to skate in 2003.[1] Alison Purkiss became her coach c. 2010.[3] She placed tenth in the novice women's event at the 2016 Canadian Championships.

Partnership with Michaud

2016–17 season

In 2016, Walsh teamed up with Trennt Michaud. The two are coached by Alison Purkiss and Margaret Purdy in London.[1] Making their international debut, they placed eleventh at a Junior Grand Prix (JGP) competition held in late September in Tallinn, Estonia, and fifth the following month at a JGP event in Dresden, Germany. In January 2017, they won the junior pairs' title at the Canadian Championships and were named in Canada's team to the 2017 World Junior Championships in Taipei. Competing in Taiwan, they placed sixth in the short program, fifth in the free skate, and fifth overall.

2017–18 season

In the 2017–2018 season, Walsh and Michaud participated in two events on the Junior Grand Prix circuit, winning the bronze medal at JGP Riga Cup and placing fourth at JGP Croatia Cup.

Competing as a senior pair at the 2018 Canadian Championships, they placed fifth overall. At the 2018 World Junior Championships, the pair placed fifth in the short program, sixth in the free skate, and sixth overall.

2018–19 season

Competing as seniors internationally in the 2018-19 season, Walsh/Michaud made their debut on the Challenger series at the Nebelhorn Trophy, where they placed seventh. For the Grand Prix series, Walsh and Michaud were initially assigned to 2018 Skate Canada International and subsequently added to the 2018 Skate America event following the withdrawal of the Chinese team of Li/Xie. They placed eighth at Skate America, following rough programs where Walsh fell five times, but fared better at Skate Canada International, finishing in fifth place.[5][6]

At the 2019 Canadian Championships, Walsh/Michaud placed second in both programs, winning the silver medal behind Moore-Towers/Marinaro. Walsh, commenting on their struggles at their first two competitions that season, said, "we do truly believe everything happens for a reason." Michaud remarked that their expectations had changed considerably from the previous season when they were happy to finish fifth.[7] They were assigned, alongside Moore-Towers/Marinaro, to compete at the Four Continents and World Championships.

Competing at Four Continents, they were in sixth place after the short program but fell to seventh overall after finishing eighth in the free skate with a performance that included an aborted lift.[8] At the World Championships, they placed twelfth.

2019–20 season

For their free program, Walsh/Michaud worked with retired Canadian pairs champion Eric Radford as choreographer.[9] Walsh/Michaud made their debut at the 2019 CS Finlandia Trophy, where they placed sixth.[10] At the 2019 Skate Canada International, their first Grand Prix assignment, they were eighth.[11] At the 2019 Rostelecom Cup, they were fifth in the short program with a new personal best.[12] Seventh in the free skate, they were sixth overall.[13]

Following the conclusion of the Grand Prix series, Walsh and Michaud consulted with 2014 Olympic pairs champion Maxim Trankov to improve pair elements, in particular their triple twist lift. Skating at the 2020 Canadian Championships, they placed third in the short program, less than a point behind second-place Ilyushechkina/Bilodeau.[14] Second in the free skate despite some under-rotations on their jumps, they won their second consecutive national silver medal. Walsh called it "the peak, I think, of our season so far, and this is exactly where we wanted to be at this point."[15]

Walsh/Michaud placed sixth at the 2020 Four Continents Championships, again ahead of Ilyushechkina/Bilodeau.[16] Consequently, they were afterward assigned to Canada's second pairs berth at the 2020 World Championships in Montreal.[17] However, the championships were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.[18]

2020–21 season

After the initial lockdowns, Walsh and Michaud were among the elite athletes who were cleared to train through future lockdowns.[19] Walsh/Michaud were assigned to the 2020 Skate Canada International, but this event was also cancelled as a result of the pandemic.[20] The team was scheduled to participate in the virtual Skate Canada Challenge in December, but Walsh sprained her ankle and was off the ice for two weeks, causing them to miss the filming period.[21]

Despite this, on February 25, Walsh and Michaud were announced as part of the Canadian team to the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm.[22] They placed twelfth at the World Championships.[23]

2021–22 season

Walsh/Michaud's outlook heading into the Olympic season was complicated by the decision of their erstwhile choreographer, former World champion Eric Radford, to return to competition alongside new partner, Vanessa James. With only two Canadian pairs berths available for the 2022 Winter Olympics, there was projected to be a fight amongst the top three Canadian teams. Walsh said, "anyone can come back into a sport. It's nothing against them. At the same time, we feel we're in a position to earn that Olympic spot, and that's what we’re chasing this year."[24]

The team was scheduled to debut competitively at the 2021 CS Autumn Classic International but withdrew after Walsh came down with a chest infection that required two courses of antibiotics as treatment.[24] At their first Grand Prix, 2021 Skate America, they placed eighth of eight teams.[25] They were sixth of seven teams at the 2021 NHK Trophy, their second assignment.[26]

At the 2022 Canadian Championships, Walsh/Michaud greatly improved on their performances earlier in the season and took the silver medal with second-place finishes in both segments. With Moore-Towers/Marinaro taking the gold medal, it was perceived that the choice for the second berth on the Canadian Olympic team would come down to Walsh/Michaud or James/Radford. The latter had withdrawn from the championships after placing fourth in the short program, having had limited training in the preceding weeks due to both skaters having COVID-19.[27] The following day, the Canadian federation named James/Radford to the second spot.[28] This choice was controversial, with many arguing that Walsh/Michaud had earned the assignment.[29]

Walsh/Michaud were assigned to compete at the 2022 Four Continents Championships in Tallinn, where they placed second in the short program, taking a silver small medal. They dropped to third place in the free skate after jump and lift errors, winning the bronze medal overall. Michaud said afterward that they had "been skating so well and training so well, and we're just disappointed that we couldn't fully show all of that today."[30]

While the team's season was originally meant to be over, longtime training partners Moore-Towers/Marinaro withdrew from the 2022 World Championships due to Moore-Towers' mental health, and first alternates Walsh/Michaud were activated.[31] As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Skating Union banned all Russian and Belarusian skaters from competing at the World Championships. As well, the Chinese Skating Association opted not to send athletes to compete in Montpellier. As those countries' athletes comprised the entirety of the top five pairs at the Olympics, this greatly impacted the field.[32] Walsh/Michaud placed eighth in the short program, sixth in the free skate, and sixth overall. Their placement, combined with the bronze medal for James/Radford, earned Canada three spots at the next year's championships.[33][34]

Retirement

Walsh and Michaud had been assigned to compete on the Grand Prix for the 2022–23 season, but on August 5, it was announced that she had decided to retire and focus on her university studies, while Michaud would seek to carry on with a new partner. Walsh said of the decision that "although earlier than I envisioned within my skating career, I am stepping away from the sport that I love. I wish to thank the current and past members of the National Team for their ongoing support and to all other individuals, especially Trennt Michaud and Alison Purkiss, who significantly impacted my career."[35]

In media

Walsh and Michaud worked on the Netflix series Spinning Out, serving as skating doubles for leads Kaya Scodelario and Evan Roderick.[9]

Programs

With Michaud

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2021–2022
[36]
2020–2021
[37]
2019–2020
[38][39]
2018—2019
[40]
2017–2018
[41][42]
  • The Light That Never Fails
    by Andra Day
    choreo. by Alison Purkiss
  • Instead
2016–2017
[1]
  • Rise Up
    by Andra Day
    choreo. by Alison Purkiss

Ladies' singles

Season Short program Free skating
2015–2016
[3]

Competitive highlights

JGP: Junior Grand Prix

Pairs with Michaud

International[25]
Event 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22 22–23
Worlds 12th C 12th 6th
Four Continents 7th 6th 3rd
GP NHK Trophy 6th
GP Rostelecom 6th
GP Skate America 8th 8th
GP Skate Canada 5th 8th C WD
GP Wilson Trophy WD
CS Autumn Classic WD
CS Finlandia 6th
CS Golden Spin 9th
CS Nebelhorn 7th
International: Junior[25]
Junior Worlds 5th 6th
JGP Croatia 4th
JGP Estonia 11th
JGP Germany 5th
JGP Latvia 3rd
Bavarian Open 1st
National[25]
Canadian Champ. 1st J 5th 2nd 2nd C 2nd
SC Challenge 1st J. 2nd 1st 1st
Ontario Sectionals 1st
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Event cancelled
Levels: J = Junior

Ladies' singles

International: Advanced Novice
Event 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19
Printemps 8th
National
Canadian Championships 10th N 12th J 14th J
SC Challenge 14th N 12th J 10th J
Ontario Sectionals 8th J 37th J
Levels: N = Novice; J = Junior

Detailed results

With Michaud

Senior results

2021–22 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 21–27, 2022 2022 World Championships 8
60.28 		6
115.74 		6
176.02
January 18–23, 2022 2022 Four Continents Championships 2
65.42 		3
114.28 		3
179.70
January 6–12, 2022 2022 Canadian Championships 2
66.88 		2
119.64 		2
186.52
December 7–11, 2021 2021 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 8
59.31 		10
109.56 		9
168.87
November 12–14, 2021 2021 NHK Trophy 6
56.97 		6
111.01 		6
167.98
October 22–24, 2021 2021 Skate America 8
54.03 		8
93.58 		8
147.61
2020–21 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 22–28, 2021 2021 World Championships 12
59.41 		12
116.83 		12
176.24
2019–20 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 4–9, 2020 2020 Four Continents Championships 6
62.97 		6
114.61 		6
177.58
January 13–19, 2020 2020 Canadian Championships 3
70.34 		2
125.95 		2
196.29
November 27–December 1, 2019 2020 Skate Canada Challenge 2
63.04 		2
116.34 		2
179.38
November 15–17, 2019 2019 Rostelecom Cup 5
62.76 		7
106.20 		6
168.96
October 25–27, 2019 2019 Skate Canada International 8
56.09 		7
108.57 		8
164.66
October 11–13, 2019 2019 CS Finlandia Trophy 8
48.03 		6
103.69 		6
151.72
2018–19 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 18–24, 2019 2019 World Championships 12
59.84 		12
114.56 		12
174.40
February 7–10, 2019 2019 Four Continents Championships 6
61.91 		8
97.14 		7
159.05
January 13–20, 2019 2019 Canadian Championships 2
65.20 		2
124.67 		2
187.87
November 28–December 2, 2018 2019 Skate Canada Challenge 2
56.24 		1
104.42 		1
160.66
October 26–28, 2018 2018 Skate Canada International 6
59.59 		6
112.94 		5
172.53
October 19–21, 2018 2018 Skate America 8
44.71 		8
84.35 		8
129.06
September 26–29, 2018 2018 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 5
51.85 		7
101.86 		7
153.71

Junior results

2017–18 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
February 14–25, 2018 2018 World Junior Championships Junior 5
55.31 		6
103.65 		6
158.96
January 8–14, 2018 2018 Canadian Championships Senior 5
62.61 		5
120.26 		5
182.87
November 29–December 3, 2017 2018 Skate Canada Challenge Senior 2
62.30 		2
114.60 		2
176.90
September 27–30, 2017 2017 JGP Croatia Junior 7
49.12 		4
101.20 		4
150.32
September 6–9, 2017 2017 JGP Latvia Junior 5
50.15 		1
103.58 		3
153.73
2016–17 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
March 15–19, 2017 2017 World Junior Championships Junior 6
51.93 		5
98.81 		5
150.74
January 16–22, 2017 2017 Canadian Junior Championships Junior 1
56.22 		1
99.51 		1
155.73
November 30–December 4, 2017 2017 Skate Canada Challenge Junior 1
56.04 		1
95.86 		1
151.90
October 5–8, 2016 2016 JGP Germany Junior 8
49.02 		5
94.90 		5
143.92
September 28–October 1, 2016 2016 JGP Estonia Junior 9
46.46 		11
76.37 		11
122.83

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Evelyn WALSH / Trennt MICHAUD: 2016 / 2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017.{cite web}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "Area skater with local tie wins gold at National Figure Skating Championships". Mitchell Advocate. January 23, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Pyette, Ryan (January 19, 2016). "New wave of area skaters gets first taste of the big time at nationals". The London Free Press.
  4. ^ Brodie, Robert (June 23, 2023). "'A team for everybody to be excited about'". R.W. Brodie Writes. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "ISU GP 2018 Skate America Pairs Short Program" (PDF). International Skating Union.
  6. ^ "ISU GP 2018 Skate America Pairs Free Skating" (PDF). International Skating Union.
  7. ^ Curley, Sean (January 19, 2019). "Moore-Towers and Marinaro win Pairs' title in Saint John". Golden Skate.
  8. ^ Slater, Paula (February 9, 2019). "Sui and Han rebound for fifth Four Continents title". Golden Skate.
  9. ^ a b Pyette, Ryan (September 4, 2019). "London figure skater Evelyn Walsh spinning into spotlight this season". London Free Press.
  10. ^ Curley, Sean (October 12, 2019). "New Canadian pairs duo Bilodeau, Ilyushechkina win bronze at Finlandia Trophy". CBC Sports.
  11. ^ Slater, Paula (October 27, 2019). "Boikova and Kozlovskii maintain overnight lead for Skate Canada gold". Golden Skate.
  12. ^ Slater, Paula (November 15, 2019). "Boikova and Kozlovskii lead pairs at 2019 Rostelecom Cup". Golden Skate.
  13. ^ Slater, Paula (November 16, 2019). "Boikova and Kozlovskii dominate pairs in Moscow for second Grand Prix gold". Golden Skate.
  14. ^ Slater, Paula (January 17, 2020). "Moore-Towers and Marinaro captivate at Canadian Nationals". Golden Skate.
  15. ^ Flett, Ted (January 18, 2020). "Moore-Towers and Marinaro defend national title in Mississauga". Golden Skate.
  16. ^ Slater, Paula (February 8, 2020). "Sui and Han bounce back for sixth Four Continents title". Golden Skate.
  17. ^ "Nam Nguyen added to Canada's world championship figure skating team". Vancouver Courier. February 13, 2020.
  18. ^ Ewing, Lori (March 11, 2020). "World figure skating championships cancelled in Montreal". CBC Sports.
  19. ^ Smiley, Brian (January 5, 2021). "Skaters continue to train for future competitions". Brantford Expositor.
  20. ^ "Skate Canada International in Ottawa cancelled as COVID-19 cases rise". CBC Sports. October 14, 2020.
  21. ^ Pyette, Ryan (January 6, 2021). "Injury takes top local pair out of Skate Canada virtual challenge". The London Free Press.
  22. ^ "Skate Canada names team for 2021 ISU World Figure Skating Championships". Skate Canada. February 25, 2021.
  23. ^ "ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021 Results – Pairs". International Skating Union.
  24. ^ a b Pyette, Ryan (October 3, 2021). "Skaters Evelyn Walsh, Trennt Michaud face fight for Olympic pairs berth". The London Free Press.
  25. ^ a b c d "Competition Results: Evelyn WALSH / Trennt MICHAUD". International Skating Union.
  26. ^ Slater, Paula (November 13, 2021). "Mishina and Galliamov storm to gold at NHK Trophy". Golden Skate.
  27. ^ Flett, Ted (January 8, 2022). "Moore-Towers and Marinaro 'three-peat' at Canadian Nationals". Golden Skate.
  28. ^ Ewing, Lori (January 9, 2022). "Canadian Olympic figure skating team unveiled for Beijing 2022". CBC Sports.
  29. ^ "London figure skater, partner not named to Olympic squad, angering fans". The London Free Press. January 10, 2022.
  30. ^ Slater, Paula (January 22, 2022). "USA's Lu and Mitrofanov: 'It means everything'". Golden Skate.
  31. ^ Doorey, Jacqueline (March 23, 2022). "Moore-Towers details struggle with long, trying season after passing on figure skating worlds". CBC Sports.
  32. ^ Campigotto, Jesse (March 22, 2022). "Get ready for a bizarre figure skating world championships". CBC Sports.
  33. ^ Slater, Paula (March 23, 2022). "USA's Knierim and Frazier lead Pairs in Montpellier". Golden Skate.
  34. ^ Slater, Paula (March 24, 2022). "USA's Knierim and Frazier take gold in Worlds debut as a team". Golden Skate.
  35. ^ "Walsh and Michaud end partnership". Skate Canada. August 5, 2022.
  36. ^ "Evelyn WALSH / Trennt MICHAUD: 2021 / 2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021.
  37. ^ "Evelyn WALSH / Trennt MICHAUD: 2020 / 2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 25, 2021.
  38. ^ "Evelyn WALSH / Trennt MICHAUD: 2019 / 2020 (1st)". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 13, 2019.
  39. ^ "Evelyn WALSH / Trennt MICHAUD: 2019 / 2020 (2nd)". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019.
  40. ^ "Evelyn WALSH / Trennt MICHAUD: 2018 / 2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 18, 2019.
  41. ^ "Evelyn WALSH / Trennt MICHAUD: 2017 / 2018 original bio". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 2, 2018.
  42. ^ "Evelyn WALSH / Trennt MICHAUD: 2017 / 2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018.

External links