42. Lubov Ilyushechkina/Dylan Moscovitch CAN
2017 Worlds short program
The pairs event at the 2017 World Championships was incredible. Just getting into the top ten required 70+ score, which is unheard of. And so, with Canada's three spots for the Olympics on the line and teammates Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford ailing with Radford's injury, Lubov Ilyushechkina/Dylan Moscovitch made their trip to Helsinki really count.
Ilyushechkina, especially, has been struggling with her solo jumps all season. But she willed that triple toe around and onto one foot, and this short program was exactly what they needed to set themselves up for a strong placement. This program also showed off their pair strengths incredibly well from start to finish.
In the end, Ilyushechkina/Moscovitch finished a career-high sixth at Worlds, and combined with Duhamel/Radford's seventh place finish, they eked out that third spot for Team Canada in South Korea next year. But the bigger question - will they be citizenship-eligible in time for the Olympics? Stay tuned.