Knierim and Frazier Leading U.S. Pairs to Great Heights

Last March when Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier were coronated as World champions in Marseilles, France, it was the first time that an U.S. team made the leap to the top of the podium at the global event in more than 40 years. In ending that drought, the duo demonstrated that there is a pathway to international riches for American pairs teams.
 
Though Knierim and Frazier could have easily ridden off into the sunset with the World title on their resume, the duo decided to stick around for another season to examine what else this partnership could achieve.
 
Their season, thus far, has been a celebration of just how far the 2022 Olympians have come in their three seasons together. They opened the 2022-23 campaign in Norwood, Massachusetts, by capturing the Skate America title, becoming only the third U.S. team to stand atop a Grand Prix podium in the series' history. Knierim and Frazier followed that up with another victory at the MK John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield, Great Britain, just a couple of weeks later, making them the first American team to win two Grand Prix events in a season.
 
"It's always a great feeling to be able to accomplish things that add history for our country," Frazier said. "It was one of those things that I didn't really know about until after we achieved it."
 
With two wins under their belts, Knierim and Frazier earned a berth to the Grand Prix Final in Torino, Italy, for the first time as a team. At the event, the duo became the first U.S. pair to capture a medal of any color in the event's history, earning silver.
 
"We have had a lack of pair teams qualify in general, so it makes sense that we haven't had many medals," Knierim said. "It's just an honor to be a part of the competition in general and to bring home a medal was very exciting.
 
"I think we left a very positive impression with the judges," Knierim continued. "We really made a lot of improvements in our connection with each other, and I think our power and speed on the ice improved from the earlier Grand Prix events. It was just the mileage on the programs which has made us more comfortable and confident as we skate."
 
Frazier added, "I think we've been constantly improving our score and the way we perform both programs. I had a couple errors on the solo jumps, but other than that, we feel very positive with the way we went and competed all around with both programs."
 
Knierim and Frazier were not the only American pairs teams to compete in Torino. Reigning U.S. pewter medalists Emily Chan and Spencer Howe also qualified for the event, finishing in sixth place overall. Not to be outdone, two teams also qualified for the junior event, winning the silver and bronze medals in that competition.
 
"I see this as a positive step forward that American pairs are starting to increase their exposure at international events," Knierim said. "These are the up-and-comers, and to see them out there gaining valuable experience is so important. I think that this inspires us to be good role models, which brings us back full circle to what we wanted to do this season. After winning the World Championships, we wanted to continue for at least one more season to inspire other American teams that have big dreams and try to show them that they are attainable."
 
Since standing on the podium in Torino, Knierim and Frazier have shifted their attention to the 2023 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships next week in San Jose, California. After withdrawing from last season's event due to Frazier's positive COVID-19 test, the duo is hoping to recapture the U.S. title that they won in their first season together back in 2021.
 
"I feel very fortunate that we were able to continue this season. I was really down when I got COVID, and even though we still made the Olympic team, we weren't sure if we were going to continue to compete, so I felt like I might have missed out on the experience of my final U.S. Championships," Frazier shared. "I wanted the opportunity to defend the title last year, but I think this year the goal is just to keep improving our programs throughout the season. But it will be a privilege to go back again and soak it all in because I know that this is not forever."
 
Although capturing the title is near the top of the list for the tricenarians, Knierim and Frazier are looking to continue to show growth and evolution in their competitive programs next week in San Jose.
 
"We do feel like we can build upon our speed and power and really make a few of the transitions in the free program look more dynamic and effortless than we did at the beginning of the season," Knierim shared. "At the start of the season you're still ironing out the kinks, but I think now we're in a good place to show another level of power. We want to make the lifts look even more effortless than they did at the Final. We want to be a little bit faster on the release and the ice coverage of our throws to gain those GOE marks. We are also very eager to keep improving on the twist. It's just work and repetition — do the programs, the run throughs, and maximize every point that you can control."
 
To make all of this happen, Knierim and Frazier have tapped into their superpowers — their desire to improve and their trust in each other.
 
"We are the strongest working team in the room all the time. We always want to do more. We don't really settle, but we know when enough is enough," Knierim shared. "There is never a point in time where either one of us has to ask the other person to step up or do more, and I think that's our greatest strength. We always maximize all of our options as how to use our time appropriately and that's probably why during the pandemic we were able to make progress without having normal conditions."

Frazier agreed: "On the ice we share so many of the same things that motivate us. We are both very passionate and willing to give up an astronomical number of things to get where we need to get to. I'm very lucky and fortunate of the partnership and the friendship we've been able to form and it's even better than I could have ever hoped."
 
Knierim and Frazier hope to extend their season beyond the U.S. Championships and are eyeing participation in next month's ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2023 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After that, they will turn their attention to defending their World title in Saitama, Japan, in March, and would like to close out their 2022-23 campaign in Tokyo at the World Team Trophy in April. The duo is scheduled to perform in three Stars on Ice tours once the season ends in Japan, the United States and Canada.
 
See if Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier can return to the top of the podium next week in San Jose. To follow all the action, or purchase tickets, visit the 2023 Toyota U.S. Championships Competition Central.