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
Formed	1993
Home town	Helsinki, Finland
Coach	Mirjami Penttinen
Skating club	Helsingfors Skridskoklubb
Level	Senior
World standing	8
ISU team best scores
Combined total	236.82 2020 Spring Cup
Short program	82.53 2019 French Cup
Free skate	164,60 2020 Spring Cup
Medal record Representing  Finland Synchronized skating World Championships 2013 Boston Synchronized skating 2009 Zagreb Synchronized skating 2023 Lake Placid Synchronized 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	Bad QUE[21]	Betrayed[22]
2018–19	Muzic makez me...[23]	Insomnia[24]
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	Bad QUE Bad Guy by Billie Eilish	Betrayed
2018–19	Music makez me... medley of "Burnitup!" by Janet Jackson, "Lose Control" by Missy Elliott	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	TU Goes Ramalama "Rama Lama (Bang Bang)" by Róisín Murphy
2015–16
2014–15
2013–14 [83]	Great Balls of Fire "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis	Wild and Free
2012–13 [6][84]	TU flow "Nu Flow" by Big Brovaz	Living Proof "Amazing Grace" by LeAnn Rimes and medley of The Help soundtrack

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:

   • "Senior Synchronized – Result". International Skating Union. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
   • "Team Unique luisteli MM-hopeaa" (in Finnish). Yle. 2009-04-04. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
6. The first site shows the official 2013 results, the second deals with the music to the 2012–13 programs:

   • "Synchronized Skating". International Skating Union. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
   • Felton, Renee (2013-04-06). "Team Unique grabs gold, Haydenettes bag bronze". Ice Network. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
7. • "Finlandia Trophy 2012 – SyS Senior – Result" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
   • "Suomen Team Unique muodostelmaluistelun voittajaksi Finlandia Trophyssa" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
8. The first site shows the official 2013 Cup of Berlin results, the second is Yle's news:

   • "Cup of Berlin 2013". Deutsche Eislauf-Union. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
   • "Team Unique valloitti Berliinin" (in Finnish). Yle. 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
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.
31. "ML Sen. ja jun. 2. vk tulokset" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2006-01-08. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
32. "SMseniorit ja SMjuniorit 2. vk 5.7.1.2007" (PDF) (in Finnish). Joensuun Kataja. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
33. "ML SM-Seniorit ja SM-juniorit 1.vk. 9.-11.11.2007" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
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:

    • "Senior Synchronized – Result". International Skating Union. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
    • "Suomi jäi ilman mitalia muodotelmaluistelun MM-kilpailuissa" [Finland places off podium at Synchro Worlds]. Helsingin Sanomat. Sanoma News. 2007-04-01. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
44. "Cup of Berlin 2005". Deutsche Eislauf-Union. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
45. "2000 Finlandia Cup". Tino Eberl. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
46. "2002 Finlandia Cup (SYS)". Tino Eberl. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
47. "2004 Finlandia Cup". Tino Eberl. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
48. "Finlandia Cup 2008 – Senior – Result" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
49. "1999 French Cup International". Tino Eberl. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
50. "Prize list". Fédération française des sports de glace. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
51. "Prague Cup". U.S. Figure Skating. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
52. "Prague Cup 2007". U.S. Figure Skating. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
53. "ML SM-seniorit ja -juniorit 1.vk. 31.10.-1.11.2008" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
54. "ML SM-Sen, -Jun, -Nov 1.vk. 6.-8.11.2009" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
55. "ML SM-sarjojen 1. vk. 12.-14.11.2010" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
56. "ML SM-sarjojen 1. vk. 11.-13.11.2011" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
57. "SM-seniorit, -juniorit, -noviisit 1.vk.9.-11.11.12" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
58. "ML SM-sarjojen 1.vk. 8.-9.11.2014" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
59. "ML SM-sarjojen 1.vk. 7.-8.11.2015" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. 2015-11-08. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
60. "ML SM-seniorit ja -juniorit 2.vk. 13.-14.12.2008" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
61. "ML SM-sen, jun, nov 2.vk. 11.-13.12.2009" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
62. "ML SM-sarjojen 2 vk. 7.-9.1.2011" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
63. "ML SM-sarjojen 2. vk. 6.-8.1.2012" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
64. "ML SM-sarjojen 2.vk. 13-.14.12.2014" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. 2014-12-14. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
65. "ML SM-sarjojen 2.vk. 5.-6.12.15" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Association. 2015-12-06. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
66. "SM-kilpailut Seniorit ja Juniorit 6.-7.3.2009" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
67. "Muodostelmaluistelu SM 26.-28.2.2010" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
68. "ML SM-KILPAILUT 4.-6.3.2011" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
69. "ML SM-kilpailut 24.-26.2.2012" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
70. "ML SM 2015 -kilpailut" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2015-03-01. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
71. "ML SM-kilpailut 27.-28.2.2016" (in Finnish). Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2016-02-28. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
72. "Cup of Berlin 2015". Deutsche Eislauf-Union. 2015-01-10. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
73. "Finlandia Trophy 2013". Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
74. "Finlandia Trophy 10.10.2014". Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2014-10-10. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
75. "Finlandia Trophy 2015 SyS". Finnish Figure Skating Association. 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
76. "Last editions". Fédération française des sports de glace. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
77. "FRENCH CUP 2011" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating. 2011-02-05. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
78. "XVIII FRENCH CUP ROUEN 2012" (PDF). Fédération française des sports de glace. 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
79. "21e FRENCH CUP 2015". Fédération française des sports de glace. 2015-02-01. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
80. "Results". Fédération française des sports de glace. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
81. "2nd MOZART CUP 2012 Int.Synchronized Skating Comp". Österreichischer Eiskunstlaufverband. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
82. "TISSOT Neuchâtel Trophy 2016". Swiss Ice Skating. 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
83. "OHJELMAT/PROGRAMS". Team Unique. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
84. "Team Unique" (in Finnish). Helsingfors Skridskoklubb. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
85. "LIVE 6: Taattua Halloween-meininkiä: Reckless Love, olkaa hyvät!" (in Finnish). Nelonen. 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
86. "Jenni Vartiainen - Selvästi päihtynyt (Virallinen musiikkivideo)" (in Finnish). Warner Music Finland. 2013-12-13. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2014-12-14.

External links

• Official website of Team Unique