Australian Cheltzie Lee has finished 21st at the World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow on the weekend.

The 18-year old AIS scholarship holder was an impressive 18th in the Ladies' Short program, but dropped outside the top 20 after placing 21st in the Free program.

The World Championships were originally scheduled to take place in Nagano, Japan, however March's earthquake and tsunami saw the event postponed and transferred to Russia.

Lee, from Sydney, completed a sizzling short program that was choreographed by England's 1980 gold medallist, Robin Cousins, which included her first triple toe, triple toe jump.

The jump was so impressive that it was the second highest scored jump in the ladies' short program.

"We were extremely pleased with Cheltzie's short program," her Australian coach, Kylie Fennell, said.

"To perform her first triple toe, triple toe and to score so highly, is a real credit to Cheltzie.

"Her component score was not as a high as we would have liked, but there were 23 skaters after Cheltzie, and often the judges are conservative early on."

While her long program was not as well scored, Fennell said that after an injury-plagued start to the season, Cheltzie was behind the eight ball.

"She landed a perfect triple lutz in the warm-up, but nerves got the better of her and she didn't attempt it in competition.

"But after a late start to the season because of injury, and not being able to compete in Skate America, a Grand Prix event at the end of November, or our own national championships, she's done very well. I'm really proud of her," Fennell added.

By finishing outside the top 18, Lee does not automatically qualify for next year's World Championships, however, with an injury free run she should be well in contention through qualifying events next season.

She will now return to Australia to catch up on her study, before returning to Colorado Springs in the United States for training in the middle of the year.

Fellow Australians Danielle O'Brien and Greg Merriman finished 12th in the elimination round of the Ice Dancing, missing the cut for the main round. Sydney's Mark Webster missed by just one place to make it through to the main draw of the Men's event.

Following the catastrophic Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the International Skating Union has postponed the running of the 2011 Figure Skating World Championships, originally scheduled to take in Tokyo on March 21-27.

The ISU issued the following statement:

"Taking into account the continued critical developments in Japan, the ISU's primary concern for the safety of all participants, spectators and members of concerned entities as well as the travel advisories from many governments to avoid travel to Japan until the situation is settled, the ISU in consultation and agreement with the Japan Skating Federation (JSF) and in line with the advise of the Japanese authorities, has concluded that the staging of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2011 scheduled to be held on March 21-27, 2011 is not possible and the Championships will not be held during that time. The postponement of the Event or alternatively the final cancellation is under evaluation."

"It is understood that a postponement of the above-mentioned World Championships is subject to the confirmation by the competent Japanese authorities that the situation is back to normal conditions allowing the safe conduct of major ISU sports Events in the Tokyo area."

The Australian team to compete in Tokyo includes:
Women - Cheltzie Lee
Men - Mark Webster
Ice Dance - Danielle O'Brien and Gregory Merriman

AIS figure skaters Cheltzie Lee, Danielle O'Brien and Gregory Merriman have all broken the top ten barrier at the Four Continents Championships in Taipei, which concluded this afternoon.

17-year-old Cheltzie Lee overcame nerves to break into the top ten at an ISU Championship for the first time, with an error free short program followed by a strong showing in the free scoring 127.90 points. Perth girl, Jamie Nobbs, whose parents represented Australia at the Olympics in Hockey, placed 19th.

Coach, Kylie Fennell, who was unable to travel to Taipei, is happy with Cheltzie's tenth place but says more work needs to be done.

"Breaking into the top ten at an ISU Championship has been Cheltzie's goal but it doesn't stop there. The past six months have been difficult with a flare up of an old back injury after the Olympics but it was the freak knee injury in August last year that really set her back," Fennell said.

"Saying that, the injury probably occurred at the best possible time as Cheltz needed to focus on her HSC studies. We now have four weeks to prepare for the World Championships and Cheltzie has higher level triples that she wants to incorporate into her programs. It was a matter of getting this first performance under her belt after one year away from competition of any sort."

The Four Continents Championship was Cheltzie's first event since the World Championships in March 2010 and prevented her from defending her national title last December.

Japan's Miki Ando easily won the event with a breath-taking short program and triple jump laden free performance amassing 201.34 points. The Silver went to compatriot, current World Champion and Olympic Silver medallist, Mao Asada. USA's Mirai Nagasu took the bronze.

The Men's title was won by defending champion Diasuke Takahashi. Australian Champion Mark Webster finished in 16th place, landing his first triple axel and a berth to the World Championships to be held in Tokyo in mid March. Australian youngster, Brendan Kerry finished in 18th.

Skating against Olympic and World Champions, ice dancers Danielle O'Brien and her partner Greg Merriman skated to a career best ninth place with a total of 104.69 points. The event was won by US Champions and Vancouver Olympic Silver medallists Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

Australia's team for the 2011 World Figure Skating Championships next month in Tokyo, Cheltzie Lee, Danielle O'Brien, Greg Merriman and Mark Webster all come from NSW, and are supported by the NSWIS as AIS/OWI Scholarship holders.

Olympic figure skating gold medallist Robin Cousins is in Sydney to work with Australia's Vancouver surprise skating star Cheltzie Lee.

Cousins, who won gold in Lake Placid in 1980, has since become best known as choreographer and artistic director for the hugely successful 'Holiday on Ice', as well as being head judge for the UK 'Dancing on Ice' TV series.

He has also been the choreographer for former world champions Brian Orser and Lu Chen.

Cousins comes to Sydney fresh from a special guest appearance as 'Teen Angel' in 'Grease the Musical' on London's West End.

Lee exceeded all expectations in Vancouver when, as one of the youngest skaters in the field, she finished in 20th place.

The 16-year-old Sydney schoolgirl followed that a month later with a 17th placing at the World Championships, delivering another personal best points score performance along the way.

Cousins will be working with Lee at Canterbury Ice Rink for the next two weeks, and also sharing his vast knowledge and experience with some of Australia's other leading skaters.

Cheltzie Lee has taken another step toward the ranks of the world's elite figure skaters, delivering a personal best score on her way to 17th place at the 2010 World Championships in Torino, Italy.

Just a month after finishing in 20th position at Vancouver 2010, Lee skated to a 17th placing in her short program, then followed up with a personal best score of 86.42 in her free program for 17th overall.

The Sydney 16-year-old's score of 137.78 points was just 0.38 below the personal best of 138.16 she had recorded in the Olympic competition.

"This result opens the door to the Grand Prix events for Cheltzie," said Olympic Winter Institute Figure Skating Coordinator Belinda Noonan.

"Her pb in the free program was great stuff. She's making small improvements all along the way."

Japanese skater Mao Asada won the ladies title with a consistent performance, finishing in second place in both the short and free programs for 197.58 points overall.

The Olympic silver medallist held off a challenge from Vancouver 2010 champion Yu-na Kim of Korea, who had been well back in seventh place after the short program, but rallied to take first place in the free program, collecting a total of 190.79 points for the silver medal.

Finnish skater Laura Lepisto took the bronze on 178.62 points.

Earlier in the championships, AIS duo Danielle O'Brien and Greg Merriman finished in 25th place in the ice dancing, while Mark Webster was 39th in the men's competition.