Kouevi and Homawoo Finished Eighth in Bangkok
The ice dance duo placed eighth in their recent Junior Grand Prix appearance after moving to Alexandria to train.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Ice Skating
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Anaelle Kouevi, 15, and Yann Homawoo, 17, finished eighth at the ISU Junior Grand Prix competition held in Bangkok. This performance follows the pair's fifth-place finish at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Why it matters
The athletes recently shifted their training base to Alexandria, Virginia, to work with coaches Pierre Souquet-Basiège and Lorraine McNamara. They sought this change to gain new perspectives and increase confidence in their competitive performances.
Kouevi and Homawoo have participated in four separate competitions since the start of September 2026. The duo previously secured a fifth-place finish at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
The players
Anaelle Kouevi
The 15-year-old athlete is a competitive ice dancer currently training in Virginia.
Yann Homawoo
The 17-year-old skater competes internationally alongside his dance partner.
Pierre Souquet-Basiège
He is a professional skating coach based in Alexandria who works with competitive dance duos.
Lorraine McNamara
She is a professional skating coach who provides technical and artistic instruction in Alexandria.
The details
The ice dance pair updated their program choreography to achieve a different storytelling vibe as part of their training evolution. They have been training in Alexandria since June 2026 under the guidance of Pierre Souquet-Basiège and Lorraine McNamara.
Timeline
The duo began training in Alexandria, Virginia, in June 2026.
The pair competed in the Bangkok Junior Grand Prix in September 2026.
The team will compete in Gdańsk, Poland, from October 8 to 10, 2026.
The athletes are scheduled for the U.S. Ice Dance Final in November 2026.
Season Trajectory
This early-season performance serves as a benchmark for the duo as they build toward the U.S. Ice Dance Final. Their trajectory hinges on how effectively the new choreography and coaching transition translate into improved judge scoring throughout the year.
The duo's eighth-place result in Bangkok impacts their overall standing heading into the U.S. Ice Dance Final. Their ability to successfully integrate the new choreography will determine their seeding for the upcoming domestic championships.
The takeaway
The team's decision to change coaching staff highlights the constant search for marginal gains in competitive ice dance. Athletes often iterate on their artistic storytelling and technical approach to climb the standings in international junior circuits.
What happens next
Kouevi and Homawoo are scheduled to compete at a Junior Grand Prix event in Gdańsk, Poland, from October 8 to 10, 2026, followed by the U.S. Ice Dance Final in November 2026.
Further reading
For more on the current competitive landscape, see coverage of Ice Skating.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Amsterdam News.
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