Daniel Mrázek
Mrázek/Mrázková at the 2022–23 Junior Grand Prix Final
Born (2003-05-15) 15 May 2003
Nymburk, Czech Republic
HometownNymburk
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Figure skating career
Country Czech Republic
PartnerKateřina Mrázková
CoachMatteo Zanni, Barbora Řezníčková
Skating clubKK Nymburk
Began skating2008
Medal record
Figure skating: Ice dance
Representing  Czech Republic
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place2023 CalgaryIce dance
Junior Grand Prix Final
Bronze medal – third place2022–23 TorinoIce dance

Daniel Mrázek (born 15 May 2003) is a Czech ice dancer. With his sister and skating partner, Kateřina Mrázková, he is the 2023 World Junior champion, the 2022–23 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, a two-time ISU Junior Grand Prix gold medalist, the 2023 Czech junior national champion, and holds the junior world record for the rhythm dance and combined total.

Personal life

Mrázek was born on 15 May 2003 in Nymburk, Czech Republic.

Career

Early career

As a single skater, Mrázek appeared twice on the Junior Grand Prix and won the bronze medal at the 2018 Czech junior national championships. In his final season of competition, he was part of the Czech team for the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics, finishing eleventh in the boys' event. He won the silver medal at the Christmas Cup, his lone senior international appearance.[1] Following the end of the season, he switched his focus to ice dance and partnered with his younger sister Kateřina.[2]

Mrázková/Mrázek made their competitive debut internationally at the Egna Dance Trophy at the end of the 2020–21 season, finishing in ninth place. The following season saw them make their ISU Junior Grand Prix debut, finishing both at both the first French JGP in Courchevel and the 2022 JGP Slovakia in Košice. Silver medalists at the Ice Challenge in the junior category, and then taking gold at the Pavel Roman Memorial, they were only the silver medalists at the Czech Junior Championships. As a result, they were not assigned to compete at the 2022 World Junior Championships but went on to win the gold medal at the Egna Trophy in their second appearance there.[2]

2022–23 season: Junior World champions

Mrázková/Mrázek opened their season at the 2022 JGP Czech Republic on home soil in Ostrava. In the rhythm dance, they set a new junior world record, breaking a three-year-old record set by 2019 World Junior champions Lajoie/Lagha. They went on to win the gold medal, the first ever for a Czech junior dance team. Mrázek observed that "in 2018, I was here in the same Junior Grand Prix as a single skater, and I finished, like, fifteenth. Today I'm here with my sister, my partner. We achieved something we didn't believe in four years."[3] The 2022 JGP Italy, their second assignment, was held at their training base in Egna. Mrázková/Mrázek improved upon their previous junior world record in the rhythm dance by over a point and led the segment going into the free dance. The siblings maintained their lead in the free to take the title by a nearly 15-point margin over silver medalists Lim/Quan of South Korea. Due to their placements across their two JGP assignments, Mrázková/Mrázek qualified to the 2022–23 Junior Grand Prix Final as the top-seeded junior dance team. They are the first Czech team to qualify for the Final since Kadlčáková/Bílek in 2000.[4]

Mrázková/Mrázek entered the Junior Grand Prix Final in Torino as the favourites for the gold medal but placed fourth in the rhythm dance after both fell at the end of their Argentine tango pattern dance segment.[5] The siblings opened their free dance with another double-fall on their rotational lift. Despite this, they still placed third in that segment and rose to third overall, 0.99 points behind silver medalists Lim/Quan. She remarked on winning the bronze medal, "we were not so happy because we made some mistakes."[6] Assessing the situation afterward, they attributed the initial fall in the rhythm dance to Mrázek tripping on Mrázková's calf-length skirt, a costuming choice they had made at the start of the season specifically to acquire a different look than the typical dance program. The siblings also said they were nervous in the face of the best possible junior competition, some of whom, such as the eventual gold medalist Canadian team Bashynska/Beaumont, they had never met before.[7]

Shortly after their disappointment in Turin, Mrázková/Mrázek appeared at the 2023 Four National Championships, finishing first overall among junior ice dance teams and winning the Czech junior national title. In the new year, they won gold at the Egna Dance Trophy in February.[2]

At the 2023 World Junior Championships in Calgary, Mrázková/Mrázek placed first in the rhythm dance, 0.11 points clear of Lim/Quan in second place, while expected rivals Bashynska/Beaumont finished fourth in the segment due to errors on the pattern. The siblings' lone error was her missing a twizzle level.[8][9] They went on to win the free skate as well by a wider margin over the South Koreans, becoming the first Czech dance team to win the Junior World title. He said they were "incredibly happy" at the outcome after the problems in Turin, also indicating that they planned to compete at the senior level the following season.[10][11]

2023–24 season

For their senior debut free dance, the duo selected Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, which Mrázek called "a big challenge for us," explaining "our goal is for the audience to feel like they are in the National Theatre."[12] Mrázková/Mrázek made their senior debut on the Challenger circuit, coming fifth at both the 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy and 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy.[2]

In what was a historic moment for the Czech Republic, Mrázková/Mrázek joined fellow Czech sibling team Taschlerová/Taschler on the Grand Prix, the first time two Czech teams competed on the circuit in the same year.[12] They both started at the 2023 Skate America, which Taschlerová called "nice" as "we are great friends all together."[13] Mrázková/Mrázek finished eighth at the event, which he said "wasn't our best, but not our worst performance either. Last season I was always a super-perfectionist and I wanted to give a flawless performance, which led to some mistakes. I think we have improved a little in this sense."[14] At the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo, the siblings placed sixth in the rhythm dance, but dropped to seventh place after Mrázková stumbled on the one-foot step sequence.[15]

Programs

With Mrázková

Season Rhythm dance Free dance Exhibition
2023–2024
[16]
  • A Evaristo Carriego
    by Eduardo Rovira
    performed by Forever Tango
2022–2023
[17]
2021–2022
[18]
  • Flor de noche
  • Nada puede dormir
  • Poeta en el viento
    by Vicente Amigo
    choreo. by Matteo Zanni

Records and achievements

Junior world record scores

Mrázková/Mrázek are the current junior world record holders for the rhythm dance and total scores.

Junior ice dance combined total records
Date Score Event Note
4 March 2023 177.36 2023 World Junior Championships Current junior world record holder.
Junior ice dance rhythm dance records
Date Score Event Note
13 October 2022 71.87 2022 JGP Italy Current junior world record holder.
2 September 2022 70.83 2022 JGP Czech Republic Surpassed on 13 October 2022.

Achievements

With Mrázek for Czech Republic:

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix CS: Challenger Series JGP: Junior Grand Prix

Ice dance with Mrázková

International [2]
Event 20–21 21–22 22–23 23–24
EuropeansTBD
GP Finland7th
GP Skate America8th
CS Lombardia Trophy5th
CS Nebelhorn Trophy5th
International: Junior [2]
Junior Worlds1st
JGP Final3rd
JGP Czech Republic1st
JGP France I4th
JGP Italy1st
JGP Slovakia4th
Egna Trophy6th1st1st
Ice Challenge2nd1st
Pavel Roman Memorial1st
Trophée Métropole Nice1st
National[2][19]
Czech Champ.2nd J1st J1st
Four Nationals2nd J1st J1st
TBD = Assigned
Levels: J = Junior

Detailed results

Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships.

With Mrázková

Senior

2023–24 season
Date Event RD FD Total
December 14-16, 2023 2024 Four Nationals Championships 1
74.86		 1
115.91		 1
190.77
November 17–19, 2023 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo 6
70.59		 7
101.99		 7
172.58
October 20–22, 2023 2023 Skate America 8
67.95		 9
102.89		 8
170.84
September 20–23, 2023 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 5
67.83		 5
109.75		 5
177.38
September 8–10, 2023 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy 6
67.31		 3
110.12		 5
177.43

Junior

2022–23 season
Date Event RD FD Total
Feb 27 – March 5, 2023 2023 World Junior Championships 1
71.19		 1
106.17		 1
177.36
February 9–12, 2023 2023 Egna Dance Trophy 1
76.22		 1
111.06		 1
187.28
December 15–17, 2022 2023 Four National Junior Championships 1
69.89		 1
103.20		 1
173.09
December 8–11, 2022 2022–23 Junior Grand Prix Final 4
64.08		 3
97.46		 3
161.54
November 9–13, 2022 2022 Ice Challenge 1
72.48		 1
98.99		 1
171.47
October 12–15, 2022 2022 JGP Italy 1
71.87		 1
101.13		 1
173.00
Aug 31 – Sept 3, 2022 2022 JGP Czech Republic 1
70.83		 1
105.43		 1
176.26
2021–22 season
Date Event RD FD Total
February 4–6, 2022 2022 Egna Dance Trophy 1
67.54		 1
99.52		 1
167.06
December 16–18, 2021 2022 Four National Junior Championships 3
52.20		 2
92.20		 2
144.40
November 10–14, 2021 2021 Ice Challenge 1
61.06		 2
89.97		 1
151.03
November 5–7, 2021 2021 Pavel Roman Memorial 1
62.55		 1
92.78		 1
155.33
October 20–24, 2021 2021 Cup of Nice 1
58.68		 1
91.06		 1
149.74
September 1–4, 2021 2022 JGP Slovakia 5
59.18		 4
91.38		 4
150.56
August 18–21, 2021 2022 JGP France I 3
57.04		 4
83.89		 4
140.93
2020–21 season
Date Event RD FD Total
February 6–7, 2021 2021 Egna Dance Trophy 9
45.45		 4
77.94		 6
123.39

References

  1. ↑ "Daniel MRAZEK / Katerina MRAZKOVA". RinkResults.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Katerina MRAZKOVA / Daniel MRAZEK: Competition Results". International Skating Union. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  3. ↑ "Newcomers dominate at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Ostrava (CZE)". International Skating Union. 5 September 2022.
  4. ↑ "Skaters grab last seven tickets for ISU Junior Grand Prix Final at JGP Egna-Neumarkt". International Skating Union. 17 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "Bashynska/Beaumont (CAN) bring the ballroom to top Junior Rhythm Dance". International Skating Union. 9 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "Bashynska/Beaumont follow legends Virtue/Moir with Canada's first Junior Grand Prix Dance gold since 2006". International Skating Union. 10 December 2022.
  7. ↑ Marešová, Alžběta (13 December 2022). "Za pády mohly sukně a nervozita. I tak získali Mrázkovi historickou medaili" [Skirts and nervousness were to blame for the falls. Even so, the Mrázeks were awarded a historic medal]. iDnes (in Czech).
  8. ↑ "Mrazkova/Mrazek (CZE) tango to the lead in Junior World Rhythm Dance". International Skating Union. 4 March 2023.
  9. ↑ Slater, Paula (4 March 2023). "Mrazkova and Mrazek take narrow lead in Calgary". Golden Skate.
  10. ↑ "Mrazkova/Mrazek claim first ever World Junior Ice Dance title for Czech Republic". International Skating Union. 4 March 2023.
  11. ↑ Slater, Paula (4 March 2023). "Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek make history in Calgary". Golden Skate.
  12. 1 2 Marešová, Alžběta (20 October 2023). "Krasobruslaři Taschlerovi skončili na Americké brusli pátí, Mrázkovi byli osmí" [Historic moment of Czech figure skating. For the first time, two dance teams start at the Grand Prix]. iDnes (in Czech). Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  13. ↑ Slater, Paula (23 October 2023). "Chock and Bates win fourth Skate America gold". Golden Skate. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  14. ↑ Marešová, Alžběta (22 October 2023). "Krasobruslaři Taschlerovi skončili na Americké brusli pátí, Mrázkovi byli osmí" [The Taschler figure skaters finished fifth at Skate America, the Mrázeks were eighth]. iDnes (in Czech). Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  15. ↑ "Krasobruslaři Mrázkovi obsadili na Grand Prix v Espoo sedmé místo" [Figure skaters Mrázek took seventh place at the Grand Prix in Espoo]. iDnes (in Czech). 18 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  16. ↑ "Katarina MRAZEKOVA / Daniel MRAZEK: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023.
  17. ↑ "Katerina MRAZKOVA / Daniel MRAZEK: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022.
  18. ↑ "Katerina MRAZKOVA / Daniel MRAZEK: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022.
  19. ↑ "Katerina MRAZKOVA / Daniel MRAZEK". RinkResults.com. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
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