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Miura Kihara JPN Missisauga Oct22 Pairs Short 1437387673

Rinka Watanabe (JPN) was sixth after the Short Program but her Free Skate lifted her to the top of the podium in her first ISU GP. © ISU

Japan’s Rinka Watanabe soared from sixth place after the Short Program to take gold in the first ISU Grand Prix event of her career. In a dramatic session which saw the whole podium overhauled, Starr Andrews (USA) climbed from fifth to second while Young You of Korea moved up one spot to earn the bronze.

Watanabe opened her program to “Jin” with a triple Axel and followed up with four more clean triples and level-four spins. However, she under-rotated her triple loop-triple toe combination and the second triple Lutz was downgraded. Watanabe picked up 134.32 points to total 197.59 points.

“This is my first time at the Grand Prix and I did pretty good. This is my first time on the Grand Prix and I was very nervous. I was told only one week ago that I will go here and I had to adjust my training. I had some challenges to overcome, but did well,” Watanabe said.

“At the NHK Trophy I will try two triple Axels in my long program.”

Starr Andrews JPN Mississauga Oct22 Free 1437557955

Starr Andrews (USA) climbed from fifth to second with a personal best in the Free Skate to win her first ISU Grand Prix medal. © ISU

Performing to “Je suis malade”, Andrews completed five clean triple jumps and difficult spins and footwork for a personal best of 126.57 points. Overall she accumulated 191.26 points to claim her first medal on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

“I am super excited, this is my first Grand Prix medal and I couldn’t be more proud of what I have done,” Andrews commented.

“It is a huge deal for me. I am one of the few people of color in the sport and to bring home a medal is even more special.”

Young You KOR Mississauga Oct22 Free 1437559615

Young You (KOR) achieved a season's best in the Free Skate to move up one place to bronze medal position. © ISU

You went for a triple Axel, but it was downgraded. The 2020 ISU Four Continents silver medalist landed three clean triples in her routine to “The Four Seasons” and scored 125.05 points, a season's best, which added up to 190.15 points overall.

“I didn’t expect a medal today because my competition was not as good as usual. When the coach told me I was third I was really surprised and I am thankful to the crowd that they cheer me up even though the performance was not the best,” You said.

Ava Marie Ziegler (USA) missed two jumps and slipped from third to fourth place on 186.76 points. Two-time ISU Four Continents Champion Rika Kihira (JPN), who is coming back after missing a season due to injury, put in a solid performance to finish fifth on 184.33 points.

Niina Petrokina (EST) placed sixth (181.34 points), and overnight leader Madeline Schizas (CAN) and second-placed Gabrielle Daleman dropped to seventh (180.59 points) and 10th (171.61 points) respectively after some errors.

Watanabe pocketed 15 points for her victory and will compete again at NHK Trophy in Japan, where she will meet Andrews, who has 13 points. You (11 points) is headed next to the MK Wilson Trophy in Sheffield (GBR).

Skate Canada International in Mississauga (CAN) October 28-30 is the second of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.

More than 150 Skaters/Couples representing 29 ISU Members have been invited to the Series. 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 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.