Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier break 43-year spell for U.S. pairs teams, winning World Championship title

The last time the United States won a world championship title in pair skating, Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier were not yet born.

The American duo snapped a 43-year drought for Team USA, capturing gold at the World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France on Thursday (24 March) inside the Sud de France Arena.

Knierim/Frazier became the first U.S. duo since Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner in 1979 to win worlds, and did so going away: They skated a flawless free skate in an otherwise error-strewn final group, winning with a 221.09.

Japan's Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi won the silver with a 199.55, while Canada's Vanessa James and Eric Radford rallied for the bronze, scoring a 197.32.

Knierim/Frazier fittingly skated last on the night and were the outright best, their 144.21 score the top free skate by some 14 points. The duo teamed up in April of 2020, capturing a world title less than two years after forming their partnership.

"We are very proud of our performance tonight," Knierim said after. "We lived every moment to the fullest. It was a bit of a fight. We took the opportunity and seized it."

She added: "Something I've learned that has helped me find my confidence on the ice is that one program doesn't define you. Being a world champion doesn't change me as a person. I knew going on the ice today [that] we had a golden opportunity, but I already felt golden in a way."

Prior to their skate, their American teammates Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc, who were in second place after the short program, suffered a scary mid-program fall by Cain-Gribble on a triple loop attempt. She hit her chin as she fell to the ice, stopping their skate. She was later removed by medics and the team withdrawn.

The pairs discipline was without the top five finishers from the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

Earlier this month, the International Skating Union announced that "no skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia and Belarus shall be invited or allowed to participate in international ice skating competitions," including the world championships.

Therefore reigning Olympic silver medallists Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov, as well as 2021 world champs Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov, were not in attendance.

Separately, Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China did not make the trip to Montpellier.

Knierim/Frazier were sixth in Beijing, while Miura/Kihara were seventh and James/Radford were 12th.

MORE: Follow all the action from Montpellier in our live blog

Pairs free skate: Knierim/Frazier rise above

While Knierim/Frazier broke a 43-year spell for world champions from their country, they are also the first American team on the pairs podium at Worlds since 2002.

They earned their gold with superb skating, particularly in the free skate. 

The duo earned positive GOEs (Grades of Execution) on all 11 of their elements in the free, opening with a Level three triple twist, then hitting side-by-side triple toe-loop and a throw triple loop. They went from strength to strength throughout their moving "Fix You" free skate.

"I want to give a shout out to Chris Knierim and show gratitude for stepping back and allowing me to skate with his wife," said Frazier of Alexa's husband and former skating partner. "That took tremendous trust in me." 

Knerim/Frazier are coached by three-time world medallists Jenni Meno and Todd Sand. 

"Jenni and Todd have been a pair of dream coaches for me - they have built so much confidence in me."

While Miura/Kihara captured Japan's first pairs medal at a Worlds since 2012, they had a mistake-ridden free skate, Miura stumbling on their side-by-side toe-loop combination to start, and later falling on a throw triple loop. 

Their advantage from the short program helped them stay on the podium, eventually securing the silver.

James/Radford win the six world medal between them, having teamed up only a year ago. Radford and Meagan Duhamel were world champions in 2015 and 2016.

"It's one year - March 15 - since I've began skating with Eric," James said. "Skating here in France, it was incredibly moving and a blessing to skate here for me." 

Karina Safina and Luka Berulava of Georgia finished fourth with a 191.74, followed by Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nolan Seegert in fifth at 189.61.

Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud of Canada, Miriam Ziegler and Severin Kiefer of Austria and Camille Kovalev and Pavel Kovalev of France rounded out the top eight, the Kovalevs getting a rousing ovation from the home audience in attendance.