Ilia Malinin (USA) opened his gold medal-winning Free Skate with a spectacular quadruple Axel © ISU
‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin (USA) hit a spectacular quadruple Axel on his way to gold at Skate America. Kao Miura of Japan earned the silver medal and Korea’s Junhwan Cha claimed the bronze.
Skating to “Euphoria” by Labrinth, Malinin opened his performance with a spectacular quadruple Axel and reeled off a quad toe, quad Lutz, quad Salchow and a triple Lutz-triple Axel combination. The only error came when he under-rotated both jumps in his quad Lutz-Euler triple Salchow combination and fell.
The 2022 ISU World Junior Champion posted a personal best of 194.29 points and racked up 280.37 points overall to move up from fourth place in the Short Program to first after the Free Skate. Malinin was competing in his first 'real' ISU Grand Prix event as the 2020 edition was held as a domestic competition because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I felt great, it was a really good skate. I’m still in shock,” Malinin said.
“I just know that I trusted my practice and it worked well. It was very important to forget what I did yesterday (in the Short Program) and just focus on the long. I was really well prepared going into the long. That gave me the confidence to try the quad Axel and I was able to pull it off. I was very happy with how I landed it. I just have to keep that same confidence with every competition I do.”
Overnight leader Kao Miura (JPN) slipped one place but has an immediate chance to go one better at next weekend's Skate Canada © ISU
Top of the leaderboard overnight, Miura missed his opening quad loop, but recovered to land a quad toe-triple toe, a quad Salchow and another quad toe as well as a triple Axel-double Axel sequence. He also stepped out of another triple Axel. The 2022 ISU Four Continents bronze medalist picked up a personal best of 178.23 points and slipped from first to second at 273.19 points.
“I was in top form coming in so I was able to do very well here. I know there were some mistakes and that will give me something to work on for my next competition,” the Japanese skater told the press.
“My next competition is [next weekend’s] Skate Canada and it is the first time for me to do two overseas Grand Prix. I learned a lot here and hope to use it at Skate Canada.”
Junhwan Cha (KOR) admitted his James Bond routine wasn't perfect but was satisfied with the bronze medal © ISU
Cha’s James Bond routine was highlighted by a quadruple Salchow, quadruple toe loop, triple Lutz-triple loop combination and three more clean triples, but he crashed on an under-rotated triple Axel. The 2022 ISU Four Continents Champion scored 169.61 points and dropped one spot to third on 264.05 points.
“It was not perfect and it was not what I wanted, but tried hard and I’m quite satisfied,” the Korean Champion noted.
“I can work on my mistakes for next Grand Prix [the NHK Trophy in Sapporo (JPN)]. I learned a lot of things yesterday and today and I want to work a lot more on my jumps and spins and to have more energy in my program.”
2022 ISU European silver medalist Daniel Grassl (ITA) landed a quad Lutz and flip, but nevertheless slipped from third to fourth (257.67 points). Roman Sadovsky (CAN) placed fifth (225.41 points) ahead of Wesley Chiu (CAN) on 219.90 points.
Competition concludes Sunday with the Free 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.
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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 as 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.
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