Worlds: Vanessa James in 10th After Short Program
Bermudian/French figure skater Vanessa James and partner Yannick Bohuer are sitting in 10th place following the Pair Short Program at the 2010 World Figure Skating Championships in Turin, Italy. The pairs competition has a total of 25 couples competing for the prestigious title.
They received a total segment score of 55.60, with a technical element score of 32.28.
The pairs short program was held last night, with the second portion of the event, the pairs free skate, being held this evening [Mar 24]
They are pictured below during the pairs short program last night:
2010 Olympic silver medallists Pang Qing and Tong Jian of China are in first place after the pairs short program. Russians Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov are in second, with two-time world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany rounding out the top three.
The defending World Champions in pair skatings are Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy. As of February 2010, they were ranked 1st in the world. Mr. Szolkowy joins James and Boheur as one of the few black elite figure skaters.
Vanessa James and partner Yannick Bohuer became the first black couple to compete in Olympic figure skating at the 2010 Vancouver Games, and are the only all black couple to compete at a very elite level.
Born in 1987, Vanessa James, along with twin sister Melyssa, lived in Bermuda as a child and attended Mount Saint Agnes Academy. Her father is Bermudian, which enabled Ms. James to hold British citizenship and to later compete for Britain. She has now switched to representing France.
She is the daughter of Kevin James, and grandaughter of Devonshire residents Carlton and Ethlyn James.
