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Kaori Sakamoto JPN Norwood Oct22 Short 1435675736

World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) was not satisfied with her performance despite leading after the Women's Short Program © ISU

Reigning ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) edged ISU World Junior Champion Isabeau Levito (USA) for the lead in the Women’s Short Program. Amber Glenn (USA) follows in third place.

Sakamoto put out an entertaining program to “Rock U” and “Feedback” by Janet Jackson that featured a triple Lutz, double Axel and level-four spins and footwork. However, she reduced her combination to triple flip-double toe loop. The Olympic bronze medalist scored 71.72 points, less than half a point ahead of Levito.

“I think I saw mistakes on every element I could make a mistake on,” Sakamoto admitted.

“Overall I am not really happy or satisfied in terms of performance. During my training I was not skating without mistakes. Skating without mistakes in training would build up my confidence for the competition, but that wasn’t the case.

“If I don’t make any mistakes in training I can do my best in competition no matter how nervous or tense I am,” she explained. 

Isabeau Levito USA Norwood Oct22 Short 1435675639

Isabeau Levito (USA) fed off the energy of the Skate America crowd to post a personal best in the Short Program © ISU

Levito nailed a triple flip, double Axel and triple Lutz-triple loop, but she under-rotated the second jump in the combination. The 15-year-old set a personal best score for herself with 71.30 points.

“It was a fun home crowd I felt like the energy from the audience gave me energy and I enjoyed that,” the World Junior Champion shared.

“I feel very happy with my performance even though it was not perfect. I did feel pretty free, I really let go, I performed I did the best that I could.”

Amber Glenn USA Norwood Oct22 Short 1435666862

Amber Glenn (USA) broke her three-year-old personal best to complete the halfway-point podium in Norwood, MA (USA) © ISU

Skating to “Hit the Road Jack”, Glenn completed a triple flip-triple toe, double Axel and triple loop to earn 68.42 points and break her personal best from 2019. 

“I felt good out there. It was a great crowd. Skating in your home country is always a great experience,” Glenn commented.

“I feel I overcame some adversity and anxiety I was having with the Short Program this season and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalist Haein Lee (KOR) is currently ranked fourth on 66.24 points. Former US Champion Gracie Gold finished fifth (64.18 points) and Ekaterina Kurakova (POL) rounds out the top six on 63.65 points.

Competition continues Saturday with the Pairs & Men’s Free Skating and concludes Sunday with the Ice Dance and the Women's Free Skating.

Skate America in Norwood (USA) October 21-23 is the first of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.

More than 150 Skaters/Couples representing 29 ISU Members have been invited. The maximum number of entries for each event is 12 Ladies, 12 Men, 8 Pairs and 10 Ice Dance couples.

The General Announcement of the 2022/23 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series is available here. The individual announcements are published under the respective events. Full entry lists and further information are available on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series page.

Selection Criteria

The Skaters are seeded and invited to the six Grand Prix of Figure Skating events based on the results of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022. Skaters/Couples who have placed 1 to 6 in each of the four categories are seeded and assigned to two events. Skaters/Couples who have placed 7-12 at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships are selected for two ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events, and Skaters with a top 24 Seasonal Best Scores (from the 2021/22 season) as well as those placed in the top 24 of the ISU World Standings can also be invited. If available, medalists from the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships can also be selected.

In order for a Skater/Couple to be eligible to compete at an ISU Grand Prix event, a minimum total score must have been achieved in the 2021/22 or current 2022/23 season in an ISU event (Grand Prix, Junior Grand Prix, Championships) or a Challenger Series event. Exceptions apply to host country Skaters, previously ranked Skaters or split ranked Couples who return with new partners. The minimum total score is 3/5 of highest score per discipline at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022 and are as follows: Women: 141.65, Men: 187.49, Pairs: 132.65, Ice Dance: 137.89.

Following the IOC recommendation and in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants of international ice skating competitions, the ISU Council based on Article 17.1.q)i) of the ISU Constitution, agreed that with immediate effect and until further notice, no Skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus) shall be invited or allowed to participate in International ice skating competitions including ISU Championships and other ISU Events. The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus (see ISU Communication 2469).

Grand Prix Standings

Men                  Women             Ice Dance         Pair Skating

Where to Watch

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed on the official ISU YouTube Channel in most countries. Find out where to watch the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competitions.

Subscribe to the ISU YouTube Channel to receive all the latest videos and follow the conversation with #GPFigure.

ISU Grand Prix Schedule

The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events are available below:

21 - 23 Oct, 2022          Skate America, Norwood (USA)

28 – 30 Oct, 2022          Skate Canada International, Mississauga (CAN)

04 - 06 Nov, 2022         Grand Prix de France, Angers (FRA)

11 - 13 Nov, 2022          MK John Wilson Trophy, Sheffield (GBR)

18 - 20 Nov, 2022          NHK Trophy, Sapporo (JPN)

25 - 27 Nov, 2022          Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN)

08 - 11 Dec, 2022          Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Torino (ITA)

 

About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their Grand Prix events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.