Team Unique

Team Unique is a senior-level synchronized skating team from Helsinki, Finland, representing the figure skating club Helsingfors Skridskoklubb (HSK). Established in 1993 and competing at the senior level since 1996, Team Unique are the 2013 world champions, 2009 world silver medalists and the 2013 and 2016 Finnish champions. Currently, they are ranked seventh in the world by the International Skating Union. The team's home club, HSK, is also the home club to the junior team Team Mystique.

Team Unique
Team Unique at the 2013 Cup of Berlin.
Team information
Country represented Finland
Formed1993
Home townHelsinki, Finland
CoachMirjami Penttinen
Skating clubHelsingfors Skridskoklubb
LevelSenior
World standing8
Season's bests236,82 (2019–20)
228,79 (2018–19)
203,44 (2017–18)
206,65 (2016–17)
211,88 (2015–16)
215,30 (2014–15)
214,58 (2013–14)
203,00 (2012–13)
212,34 (2011–12)
211,92 (2010–11)
223,58 (2009–10)
217,21 (2008–09)
198,76 (2007–08)
ISU team best scores
Combined total236.82
2020 Spring Cup
Short program82.53
2019 French Cup
Free skate164,60
2020 Spring Cup
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Synchronized skating
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2013 BostonSynchronized skating
Silver medal – second place2009 ZagrebSynchronized skating
Bronze medal – third place2023 Lake PlacidSynchronized skating

History

Team Unique were established in 1993 and have competed at the senior level since 1996. Until the 2008–09 season, they stood out from the other Finnish top senior teams by having a few male skaters.[1][2] Head-coached by Mirjami Penttinen since 2000, the team have a long history from the early 2000s of placing third behind Marigold IceUnity and Rockettes at the two Finnish Championships Qualifiers and Finnish Championships.

By placing second or first at the national competitions and so beating Rockettes, Team Unique qualified as Team Finland 2 to the World Championships in 2002, 2003 and 2007, placing sixth, fourth[3] and fifth, respectively, and in 2009, earning silver.[4][5] The 2012–13 season was, however, historical for the team in terms of competition results – before winning the 2013 World Championships,[6] they won Finlandia Trophy,[7] the Cup of Berlin,[8] the French Cup,[9] the Second Finnish Championships Qualifier[10] and the Finnish Championships.[11][12][13] Team Unique's success continued abroad through the 2013–14 season as they won Finlandia Trophy and Leon Lurje Trophy and took their fourth straight victory at the French Cup.[14][15] However, they placed second at both the national Qualifiers and third at the Finnish Championships, and consequently, did not qualify for the 2014 World Championships, under the season's coefficients on the three national competitions.[16][17][18][19]

Programs

[20]

Short program Free program
2019–20
2018–19
  • Muzic makez me...[23]
2017–18
  • NocTUrne
  • Every Inch of You
2016–17
  • TU Goes Ramalama
  • Inside of us
2015–16
  • Peace of Mind
  • Empty Promises
2014–15
  • Free Your Mind
  • The Hunger Games
2013–14
  • Great Balls of Fire
  • Wild and Free
2012–13
  • TU Flow
  • "Living Proof"
    The Help (soundtrack)
2011–12
  • Hallelujah
  • Revenge
2010–11
  • All That Jazz
  • Phantom of the Opera
2009–10
  • Fortune-Tellers
  • La Strada
2008–09
  • W.O.M.A.N.
  • Story of Turandot

Competition results (1998–2008)
National
Event 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08
1st Finnish Championships
Qualifier		 2nd 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd
[25] [26] [27] [28] [29]
2nd Finnish Championships
Qualifier		 3rd 3rd 3rd 1st 3rd
[30] [31] [32] [33]
Finnish Championships 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd 3rd
[34] [34] [35] [34] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41]
International
Event 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08
World Championships (not held) DNQ DNQ 6th 4th DNQ DNQ DNQ 5th DNQ
[42] [3] [43]
Cup of Berlin 3rd
[44]
Finlandia Cup 4th 2nd 3rd 3rd
[45] [46] [47] [48]
French Cup 4th 2nd 1st 2nd 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd
[49] [50] [50] [50] [50] [50] [50] [50]
Prague Cup 2nd 2nd
[51] [52]
DNQ = did not qualify

Competition results (2008–20)
National
Event 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
1st Finnish Championships
Qualifier		 1st 3rd 3rd 2nd 3rd 2nd 3rd 3rd 2nd 3rd 3rd 1st
[53] [54] [55] [56] [57] [16] [58] [59]
2nd Finnish Championships
Qualifier		 2nd 3rd 3rd 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd 2nd
[60] [61] [62] [63] [10] [17] [64] [65]
Finnish Championships 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd 1st 3rd 3rd 1st 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd
[66] [67] [68] [69] [11] [18] [70] [71]
International
Event 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
World Championships 2nd DNQ DNQ DNQ 1st DNQ DNQ 4th DNQ 4th DNQ (not held)
[5] [6]
Cup of Berlin 1st 2nd
[8] [72]
Finlandia Trophy 1st 1st 3rd 4th 3rd 4th 3rd 3rd
[7] [73] [74] [75]
French Cup 1st 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd 4th
[50] [76] [77] [78] [9] [14] [79] [80]
New England Challenge Cup 1st
Leon Lurje Trophy 1st
[15]
Mozart Cup 4th 4th
[81]
Neuchâtel Trophy 3rd 2nd
[82]
Prague Cup 2nd
Hevelius Cup 1st
Spring Cup 1st
Winter Universiade 1st
DNQ = did not qualify

Programs
Season Short program Free skating
2019–20
  • Betrayed
2018–19
  • Insomnia
2017–18
  • NocTUrne
    composed by Jan Nyberg
  • Every Inch of You
    Music: Postmodern Jukebox rendition of "Creep" and "All About That Bass"
2016–17
    2015–16
        2014–15
            2013–14
            [83]
            • Wild and Free
            2012–13
            [6][84]

            Media appearances

            Team Unique performed on the season one of the Finnish Dancing on Ice on 2 November 2013.[85] They also appeared as background skaters in the December 2013 music video for "Selvästi päihtynyt" by Finnish pop singer Jenni Vartiainen.[86]

            References
            1. Note: Click "Historia".
              • "Historia" [History] (in Finnish). Helsingfors Skridskoklubb. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            2. "Marigoldin valmentaja vastustaa joukkueiden pienentämistä" [Marigold coach opposes team size reduction] (in Finnish). MTV3. 2004-01-26. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            3. "Marigold IceUnity voitti MM-hopeaa" [Marigold IceUnity takes silver at Worlds]. Kaleva (in Finnish). Kaleva Oy. Suomen Tietotoimisto. 2003-04-06. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            4. "Joukkue" [Team] (in Finnish). Helsingfors Skridskoklubb. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            5. The first site shows the official 2009 results, the second site is Yle's news:
            6. The first site shows the official 2013 results, the second deals with the music to the 2012–13 programs:
            8. The first site shows the official 2013 Cup of Berlin results, the second is Yle's news:
            9. "FRENCH CUP 2013". Fédération française des sports de glace. 2013-02-02. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            10. "SM-seniorit, -juniorit, -noviisit 2.vk. 7.-9.12.12" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            11. "SM-kilpailut 23.-24.2.2013" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            12. "Team Unique rikkoi Marigoldin ja Rockettesin ylivallan" [Team Unique breaks Rockettes-Marigold domination] (in Finnish). Yle. 2013-02-24. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            13. "Muodostelmaluistelu – Arvokilpailuvalintakriteerit 2012-2013" [Selection Criteria 2012-2013] (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            14. The first scores are for the short program, the second ones for the free skating:
              • "FRENCH CUP 2014". Fédération française des sports de glace. 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
              • "FRENCH CUP 2014". Fédération française des sports de glace. 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            15. "Leon Lurje Trophy 2014". Svenska Konståkningsförbundet. 2014-01-19. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            16. "ML SM-sarjojen 1. vk. 8.-10.11.2013" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            17. "ML 2. SM-sarjojen valinta 6.-8.12.2013" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            18. "ML SM 2014 22.-23.2.2014" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            19. "Suomen Taitoluisteluliiton arvokilpailuvalintakriteerit kaudelle 2013-2014" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            20. "History, teamunique.fi".
            21. "Team Unique". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
            22. "Team Unique". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
            23. "Team Unique". Facebook. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
            24. "Team Unique". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
            25. "Muodostelmaluistelun juniori- ja seniorisarjojen 1. valintakilpailu 2004" [1st Finnish Synchronized Skating Championships Qualifier 2004 in Junior and Senior League] (in Finnish). Etelä-Vantaan Taitoluistelijat. 2003-11-11. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            26. "Muodostelmaluistelu, SM-Senioreiden 1. valintakilpailu" (in Finnish). Joensuun Kataja. 2004-11-14. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            27. "Rockettes voitti, MIU toinen" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2005-06-11. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            28. "Muodostelmaluistelun 1. SM-valintakilpailu 18.-19.11.2006" (in Finnish). Espoon Jäätaiturit. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            29. "ML SM-Seniorit ja SM-juniorit 1.vk. 9.-11.11.2007" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            30. "MUODOSTELMALUISTELUN SM-SEN JA SM-JUN 2.VK" (in Finnish). Helsingin Luistelijat. 2005-01-18. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
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            32. "SMseniorit ja SMjuniorit 2. vk 5.7.1.2007" (PDF) (in Finnish). Joensuun Kataja. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
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            34. "Muodostelmaluistelu Suomessa". Espoon Jäätaiturit. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            35. "Rockettes ja Marigold IceUnity edustavat Suomea MM-kisoissa" [Rockettes and Marigold IceUnity to represent Finland at World Championships]. Yle. Suomen Tietotoimisto. 2001-02-28. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            36. "Marigold lähtee Suomen mestarina puolustamaan MM-kultaansa" [Marigold win Finnish Championships, go to defend World title]. Yle. Suomen Tietotoimisto. 2002-03-02. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            37. "Marigold Ice Unity muodostelmaluistelun Suomen mestari" [Marigold IceUnity win Finnish Synchronized Skating Championships]. Yle. Suomen Tietotoimisto. 2004-02-29. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            38. "Marigold IceUnity jälleen ykkönen" [Marigold IceUnity remains number one]. Yle. Suomen Tietotoimisto. 2005-03-06. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            39. "Marigold IceUnity ja Musketeers Suomen mestari" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2006-02-27. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            40. "Marigold IceUnitylle Suomen ennätys" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            41. "Muodostelmaluistelun SM-kilpailut 22.-24.2.2008" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            42. "Marigold IceUnitylle muodostelmaluistelun MM-kultaa" [Marigold IceUnity wins Synchro Worlds] (in Finnish). Yle. Suomen Tietotoimisto. 2002-04-13. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
            43. The first site shows the official 2007 results, the second site is a Helsingin Sanomat article:
            44. "Cup of Berlin 2005". Deutsche Eislauf-Union. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
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            81. "2nd MOZART CUP 2012 Int.Synchronized Skating Comp". Österreichischer Eiskunstlaufverband. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
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