Matthias Versluis
Turkkila/Versluis in 2018
Born (1994-07-18) 18 July 1994
Genolier, Switzerland
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Figure skating career
Country Finland
PartnerJuulia Turkkila
CoachMaurizio Margaglio
Skating clubSC Helsinki
Began skating2002
Medal record
Figure skating: Ice dancing
Representing  Finland
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place2023 EspooIce dancing

Matthias Versluis (born 18 July 1994) is a Finnish figure skater. Competing in ice dancing with Juulia Turkkila, he is the 2023 European bronze medalist, a two-time Grand Prix of Espoo bronze medalist, 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy gold medalist, and a four-time Finnish national champion (2019, 2022-24).

As a single skater, he is the 2014 Finnish national champion and competed in the final segment at two ISU Championships.

Personal life

Versluis was born on 18 July 1994 in Genolier, Switzerland,[1] to a Finnish mother and Dutch father.[2] He moved to Finland with his family when he was six months old.[2] As of 2018, he was studying physiotherapy[3] at the Arcada University of Applied Sciences.[4]

Career

Early career

Versluis began learning to skate in 2002.[1] Tiiu Valgemäe coached him early in his career.[5] In 2008, he debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series, coached by Virpi Horttana, Sara Lindroos, and Arja Veijola.[5] He competed at the 2012 and 2013 World Junior Championships, qualifying for the free skate at both events.[6]

In December 2013, Versluis won the senior men's title at the 2014 Finnish Championships.[7] He was selected to compete at the 2014 European Championships but withdrew due to a knee injury, sustained in training on 9 January 2014.[8] His coaches were Virpi Horttana, Kati Perokorpi, and Henna Hietala.[9] By 2015, he was being coached by Stefan Zins.[10]

On 1 April 2016, the Finnish Figure Skating Association reported that Versluis had teamed up with Juulia Turkkila to compete in ice dancing.[11]

2016–2017 season: Debut of Turkkila/Versluis

Making their international debut, Turkkila/Versluis placed sixth at the NRW Trophy in November 2016. Later that month, they finished 13th at their first ISU Challenger Series assignment, the 2016 CS Tallinn Trophy. In December, they took the silver medal behind Törn/Partanen at the 2017 Finnish Championships. In February, they represented Finland at the 2017 Winter Universiade, finishing eighth.[12]

2017–2018 season

Turkkila/Versluis competed at a pair of Challenger Series competitions – placing tenth at the 2017 CS Lombardia Trophy, and fifteenth at the 2017 CS Finlandia Trophy – and then finished thirteenth at the International Cup of Nice. In November, they won bronze at the Ice Challenge in Austria. In December, they repeated as national silver medalists, again finishing second to Törn/Partanen.[12]

2018–2019 season: First national title and Worlds debut

Turkkila/Versluis began their season with three Challenger Series events – they finished sixth at the 2018 CS Lombardia Trophy, seventh at the 2018 CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy, and sixth at the 2018 CS Finlandia Trophy. In October, the duo won silver at the Minsk-Arena Ice Star. In November, they debuted on the Grand Prix series, placing sixth at the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki, and then took bronze at the Warsaw Cup. The following month, they became the Finnish national champions and were selected to compete at the 2019 European Championships in Minsk, Belarus, where they placed eleventh. They then competed at their first World Championships, placing sixteenth.[12]

2019–2020 season

Turkkila sustained a neck injury in a practice session at the 2019 CS Lombardia Trophy, compelling the team to withdraw from the competition. They subsequently also withdrew from the 2019 CS Finlandia Trophy and the 2019 Rostelecom Cup, their Grand Prix assignment for the year.[13] They were assigned to compete at the World Championships in Montreal, but these were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.[14]

2020–2021 season

Returning to competition for the first time in two years, Turkkila/Versluis represented Finland at the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm, placing twenty-first after a fluke error on the rotational lift.[15]

2021–2022 season: Beijing Olympics

Turkkila/Versluis began the Olympic season at the 2021 CS Lombardia Trophy, where they placed sixth.[16] They were assigned to the 2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, seeing to qualify a place for Finland at the 2022 Winter Olympics. They placed first in both programs, setting three new personal bests to take both their first Challenger gold and the first of four available dance spots.[17] At their third Challenger event of the season, the 2021 CS Finlandia Trophy, Turkkila/Versluis came sixth, notably managing fourth place in the free dance.[12] They competed at the 2021 Cup of Nice, also known as Trophée Métropole Nice, where they won gold, before going on to make their Grand Prix appearance at the 2021 Internationaux de France, where they finished in seventh.[18]

After winning their second Finnish national title, Turkkila/Versluis were named to the Finnish Olympic team. Turkkila had a mild case of COVID-19 in late December and recovered, but because she continued to test positive, the team was unable to participate in the 2022 European Championships.

Making their appearance at the Beijing Olympics dance event, Turkkila/Versluis were the first Finnish ice dancers to appear in the Winter Olympics since Rahkamo/Kokko in 1994. They placed sixteenth in the rhythm dance, qualifying for the free dance.[19] They moved up one place in the free dance, finishing fifteenth.[20]

Turkkila and Versluis concluded the season at the 2022 World Championships, held in Montpellier. They finished twelfth.[12]

2022–2023 season: Grand Prix and European medals

Turkkila/Versluis won the bronze medal at the 2022 CS Finlandia Trophy before taking the gold medal at the 2022 Cup of Nice.[12] They were considered medal contenders going into the Grand Prix, but placed eighth in the rhythm dance after Turkkila fell during the twizzle sequence. They were fifth in the free dance, rising to seventh overall.[21] Their second event was the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo, held on home ice in Finland instead of the Rostelecom Cup as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian War. They finished fourth in the rhythm dance with a new personal best score of 75.06, 1.16 points behind third-place Americans Carreira/Ponomarenko.[22] In the free dance, they rose to third overall with another new personal best (116.73), taking the bronze medal with a total score of 191.79. They were the lone Finnish medalists at the Finnish Grand Prix event and the first Finnish dance team to ever medal in the Grand Prix. Turkkila said that the result "gives us a lot of confidence. We know what we are capable of, and we want to achieve more. This is just the beginning."[23][24]

After winning their third Finnish national title, Turkkila/Versluis were their country's primary medal hope at a home European Championships, hosted, like the Grand Prix, in Espoo. This was their first appearance at the European Championships since 2019. They finished third in the rhythm dance with a new personal best score of 77.56, 0.23 points ahead of fourth-place Lithuanian team Reed/Ambrulevičius.[25][26] In the free dance, Turkkila/Versluis set new personal bests in that segment and overall, and won the bronze medal. This was the first European medal for a Finnish dance team since Rahkamo/Kokko's gold in 1995. Versluis called it "absolutely amazing," especially in light of their previous absences.[27][28]

Turkkila/Versluis concluded the season at the 2023 World Championships in Saitama, where they finished ninth, the first time since 1995 that a Finnish team placed in the top ten. Turkkila commented that "in August, you couldn't have imagined that there would be a season like this. All expectations have been exceeded."[29]

2023–2024 season

Beginning the season at the 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, Turkkila/Versluis won the bronze medal.[12] Competing next on home ice at the 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy, they won the rhythm dance.[30] Second in the free dance, they remain in first place overall, becoming the first Finnish dance team to win the gold medal at the Finlandia Trophy. The duo noted that the Espoo Metro Areena had been the site of many milestones in their careers, including national singles championships, making it a place of "many meanings."[31] With Finland again hosting on the Grand Prix in the same venue, they won another bronze medal at the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo.[32] Turkkila/Versluis went on to finish fourth at the 2023 NHK Trophy, which they said they considered a strong result given that they were competing on consecutive weekends. Turkkila said they were "overall very happy" with the first half of the season.[33]

Programs

Turkkila and Versluis at the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki

Ice dancing with Turkkila

Season Rhythm dance Free dance Exhibition
2023–2024
[34]
2022–2023
[35]
  • Samba: Rebelado
    by Watazu
  • Rhumba: Wicked Game
    by Ursine Vulpine, Annaca
  • Samba: Jao Geralderry
    by Watazu
  • Samba: Banto
    by Kaoma, Loalwa Braz, Michel Abihssira
    choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo, Massimo Scali
  • 4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899:
    No. 3 in G-Flat Major: Andante
  • Piano Sonata No. 20 In A Major, D.959:
    IV. Rondo (Allegretto)
  • 4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899:
    No. 3 in G-Flat Major: Andante
    by Franz Schubert
    choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo, Massimo Scali
  • Hullaannun
    by Younghearted
2021–2022
[36]
2019–2021
[37][38]
2018–2019
[1][3]
Short dance
2017–2018
[39]
  • Beautiful Maria Of My Soul
    by Arne Glimcher, Robert Kraft
  • Afro Bongo
    by Watazu
  • De Donde Soy
    performed by Thalía
2016–2017

Single skating

Versluis at the 2012 Junior World Championships
Season Short program Free skating
2013–2014
[9]
  • Infiltrado
    by Bajofondo
  • Grand Guignol
    by Bajofondo
2012–2013
[40]
  • Infiltrado
    by Bajofondo
  • Grand Guignol
    by Bajofondo
2011–2012
[41]
  • Two Weeks Notice
    by John Powell
2009–2010
[42]
2008–2009
[5]
  • Primavera Tango
    by Antonio Vivaldi
  • Concerto in E major, Op 8
    La Primavera III Allegro
    by Antonio Vivaldi

Competitive highlights

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

Ice dancing with Turkkila

International[12]
Event 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22 22–23 23–24
Olympics15th
Worlds16thC21st12th9th
Europeans11thWD3rdTBD
GP Finland6th3rd3rd
GP France7th7th
GP NHK Trophy4th
CS Finlandia Trophy15th6thWD6th3rd1st
CS Lombardia Trophy10th6thWD6th
CS Nebelhorn Trophy1st3rd
CS Ondrej Nepela7th
CS Tallinn Trophy13th
Universiade8th4th
Bavarian Open11th6th3rd
Cup of Nice13th1st1st
Egna Trophy5th1st
Ice Challenge3rd
Ice Star2nd
NRW Trophy6th
Open d'Andorra5th
Swiss Open1st
Warsaw Cup3rd
National
Finnish Champ.2nd2nd1stC1st1st1st
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Cancelled

Single skating

International[6]
Event 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16
CS Finlandia11th
CS Golden Spin20th
CS Nepela Trophy6th
Challenge Cup7th
Finlandia Trophy14th12th10th
Golden Bear1st
Lombardia Trophy4th
Nordics5th8th4th
NRW Trophy23rd7th16th
Printemps5th
Volvo Open Cup13th
International: Junior[6]
Junior Worlds21st19th
JGP Austria13th
JGP Belarus9th
JGP Czech Rep.20th
JGP Estonia12th
JGP Germany11th
JGP Latvia17th
JGP Poland9th
JGP U.K.11th
Challenge Cup7th
Cup of Nice14th
EYOF4th
Gardena5th
Nordics3rd5th
NRW Trophy3rd2nd
International: Novice[6][43]
Copenhagen1st
Nordics1st
Warsaw Cup1st
National[6]
Finnish Champ.3rd J4th J2nd J5th J1st J2nd2nd1st4th3rd
J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 Jokinen, Leena (17 December 2011). "Nurmenkari niukassa johdossa". is.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 13 November 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Q & A: Juulia Turkkila & Matthias Versluis". ice-dance.com. 20 December 2018.
  4. ↑ "Får jag lov? frågade Juulia, och Matthias svarade ja – med motivationen i botten och karriären på fall förändrade en fråga allting". svenska.yle.fi (in Swedish). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  5. 1 2 3 "Matthias VERSLUIS: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 5 June 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Competition Results: Matthias VERSLUIS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016.
  7. ↑ Pusa, Ari (16 December 2013). "Matthias Versluis taitoluistelumestari ennätyspistein" [Matthias Versluis wins national title with record score]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish).
  8. ↑ "Versluis loukkaantui - EM-kisat jäävät väliin" [Versluis injured, out of European Championships] (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Suomen Tietotoimisto. 11 January 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Matthias VERSLUIS: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 21 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "Matthias VERSLUIS: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "Juulia Turkkila ja Matthias Versluis jäätanssipariksi" [Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis team up for ice dancing] (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. 1 April 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Competition Results: Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019.
  13. ↑ Skating Finland [@SkatingFinland] (October 1, 2019). "Juulia Turkkila-Matthias Versluis announced today: "Unfortunately, we have to postpone the start of our competitive season due to Juulia's neck injury. We hope to be back soon and stronger than ever." Get well soon but be patience with the recovery! 💛" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ Ewing, Lori (March 11, 2020). "World figure skating championships cancelled in Montreal". CBC Sports.
  15. ↑ "ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021 Results – Ice Dance". International Skating Union.
  16. ↑ "Lombardia Trophy 2021". Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio.
  17. ↑ Flade, Tatjana (September 25, 2021). "Finland's Turkkila and Versluis dance off with Nebelhorn gold". Golden Skate.
  18. ↑ Slater, Paula (November 20, 2021). "Papadakis and Cizeron take 12th Grand Prix gold in France". Golden Skate.
  19. ↑ "Suomalaiset palasivat jäätanssin olympiajäälle upealla tavalla – Turkkila ja Versluis saivat tiedon jatkopaikasta yllättävällä hetkellä" [The Finns returned to the ice age of ice dancing in a wonderful way - Turkkila and Versluis received information about the continuation at a surprising moment]. Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 12 February 2022.
  20. ↑ Penny, Brandon (13 February 2022). "How the free dance transpired and determined Olympic ice dance medalists". NBC Sports.
  21. ↑ "Turkkila ja Versluis nousivat vapaatanssissa seitsemänneksi" [Turkkila and Versluis came seventh in the free dance]. Savon Sanomat (in Finnish). 5 November 2022.
  22. ↑ "Confident and cool Gilles/Poirier (CAN) set personal best to win Espoo Rhythm Dance". International Skating Union. November 25, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Ice Dancers Gilles/Poirier (CAN) cruise to gold while Turkkila/Versluis take first Grand Prix medal for Finland". International Skating Union. November 26, 2022.
  24. ↑ Slater, Paula (November 26, 2022). "Gilles and Poirier epic in Espoo". Golden Skate.
  25. ↑ Slater, Paula (January 27, 2023). "Guignard and Fabbri take slight lead at Europeans". Golden Skate.
  26. ↑ "Guignard/Fabbri (ITA) find the right rhythm for the prime spot in the Ice Dance in Espoo". International Skating Union. January 27, 2023.
  27. ↑ Slater, Paula (January 28, 2023). "Guignard and Fabbri grab elusive gold in Espoo". Golden Skate.
  28. ↑ "Guignard/Fabbri end nine-year gold medal drought for Italian Ice Dance in Espoo". International Skating Union. January 28, 2023.
  29. ↑ Pusa, Ari (March 25, 2023). "EM-mitalistit Juulia Turkkila ja Matthias Versluis onnistuivat MM-jäällä – paras suomalaissijoitus 28 vuoteen" [EC medalists Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis succeeded on the ice of the WC – the best Finnish finish in 28 years] (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Suomen Tietotoimisto. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  30. ↑ Ikonen, Petteri (October 7, 2023). "Juulia Turkkila ja Matthias Versluis onnistuivat hienosti" [Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis did a great job] (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Suomen Tietotoimisto. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  31. ↑ Ikonen, Petteri (October 8, 2023). "Julia Turkkila ja Matthias Versluis saavuttivat yhteisen voiton – "Tällä paikalla on monta merkitystä"" [Julia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis achieved a joint victory - "This place has many meanings"] (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Suomen Tietotoimisto. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  32. ↑ Slater, Paula (November 18, 2023). "Chock and Bates take second consecutive Grand Prix gold". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  33. ↑ Slater, Paula (November 25, 2023). "Fear and Gibson edge out Italians for NHK Trophy gold". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023.
  35. ↑ "Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022.
  36. ↑ "Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022.
  37. ↑ "Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020.
  38. ↑ "Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021.
  39. ↑ "Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018.
  40. ↑ "Matthias VERSLUIS: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 12 March 2013.
  41. ↑ "Matthias VERSLUIS: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012.
  42. ↑ "Matthias VERSLUIS: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 26 September 2010.
  43. ↑ "Matthias VERSLUIS". rinkresults.com.
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