Sofia Lexi Jacqueline Frank of the Philippines performs during the women’s short program of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Tondiraba Ice Hall in Tallinn on January 20, 2022. AFP FILE PHOTO
HARBIN, China—Sofia Lexi Jacqueline Frank isn’t just skating for medals at the 9th Asian Winter Games—she’s paving her path to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy.
“I’m definitely targeting the Winter Olympics,” said the 19-year-old ace after finishing 10th out of 25 competitors in the women’s single skating short program on Wednesday. Frank, born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, scored 43.55 points, powered by a technical element score of 21.21 and a program component score of 22.34, securing a spot in Thursday’s medal round.
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“Getting a medal would be great, but right now, I just want to focus on skating well for myself,” she added.
Joining her in the finals at Harbin’s HIC Multifunctional Hall is fellow Filipino skater Cathryn Limketkai, who placed ninth with 45.28 points. Leading the field is Japan’s world No. 1 Kaori Sakamoto with 75.03 points, followed by South Korea’s Kim Chae-yeon (71.88) and Japan’s Hana Yoshida (68.76), ranked fifth and ninth globally, respectively.
“They’re my idols,” Frank said of Sakamoto, Kim, and Yoshida. “I’ve been watching them since I was younger. I’m so excited to be on the same stage with them.”
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Frank’s mother, 1990 Binibining Pilipinas International Precious Tongko, was present to cheer her on.
Frank’s Olympic hopes hinge on two key events: placing in the top 24 at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston from March 25 to March 30, or finishing among the top seven at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany this October.
“These are the two windows where I could qualify for the Olympics,” said Frank, who was told that she could blaze the trail for Filipino figure skaters.
“I could become the first Filipina figure skater in the Winter Games? Really? I hope so—that would be really cool.”
Meanwhile, the Philippine men’s curling team advanced to the knockout qualification match after defeating Chinese Taipei, 11-3. Filipino Swiss curlers Marc and Enrico Pfister, alongside Christian Haller and Alan Frei, will face Japan for a spot in the semifinals against China.
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