In winning a first ISU GP Pairs gold for Japan, Miura/Kihara said they hope to inspire other couples to follow in their footsteps. © ISU
Reigning ISU World silver medalists Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara of Japan won the first ISU Grand Prix gold medal in the Pairs category for their country. Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe (USA) claimed the silver medal while the bronze went to Italy’s Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii.
Skating to “Atlas Two” by Sleeping At Last, Miura/Kihara produced a triple twist, side-by-side triple Salchow, throw triple Lutz and loop as well as two level-four lifts. The only error came when Miura put her hand down on the triple toe loop. The Japanese team scored 138.63 points and accumulated 212.02 points overall for their first ISU Grand Prix gold medal after a silver and a bronze last season.
“Us winning the gold medal today was a big step for Japanese pairs. I’m sure there are many skaters in Japan that are much more talented than I am. I think we showed to them that if they are able to challenge themselves, they can achieve what we achieved. I think that many people will follow in our footsteps,” Kihara noted.
“In the short and free program we had a lot of levels that we didn’t achieve, lots of points left on the table. That will be a big takeaway for us for the next event,” Miura said.
Chan/Howe (USA), who danced to music from "Ghost", took silver - their first ISU Grand Prix medal. © ISU
Chan/Howe’s performance to music from “Ghost” was highlighted by a double Salchow-double Axel-double Axel, a triple twist and difficult lifts. However, Chan fell on the triple toe and stepped out of the throw triple loop. The 2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalists earned 119.09 points and had a total of 186.48 to win their first ISU Grand Prix medal.
“We are super grateful to be sitting here right now and getting our first medal at Skate Canada. We had a couple of bobbles and we want to get back home and continue to work,” Howe commented.
“For us our biggest takeaway is that this was another competition to get our feet out on the ice and we want to carry that steam on to NHK Trophy. We want to keep improving on a lot of the elements that need work.”
Conti/Macii (ITA) were placed second for the Free Skate with a personal best but remained in bronze overall. © ISU
Conti/Macii’s performance to “Cinema Paradiso” included a triple twist, side-by-side triple Salchow-double Salchow, triple toe and throw triple Salchow, but Conti fell on the throw triple loop. The Italians set a personal best with 119.52 points and ranked second in the Free Skating, but overall remained in third place at 186.18 points, just 0.3 points behind the American silver medalists.
“It was a difficult program for us,” Macii admited. “It was our first Grand Prix and after yesterday we were third. We didn’t expect that and to keep it up was difficult. We were shaky. [The medal] is really unexpected we thought we could fight for the medal, but you never know what happens on the ice. It seems like a dream and We’ll try to enjoy this moment,” he continued.
2022 ISU World Junior bronze medalists Brooke McIntosh/ Benjamin Mimar (CAN) finished fourth on 175.49 points followed by Valentina Plazas/Maximiliano Fernandez (USA) on 164.14 points. Alisa Efimova/Ruben Blommaert (GER) withdrew from the event citing injury to Efimova. They stood in seventh place after the Short Program.
Miura/Kihara scored 15 points in the Grand Prix standings and are scheduled to compete in two weeks at NHK Trophy on home soil. Chan/Howe’s next event is the NHK Trophy as well (13 points) while Conti/Macii are headed to Sheffield for their second Grand Prix.
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.
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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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