Nikolaj Memola came from second place to strike gold on home ice – and it was the first Junior Grand Prix Final title for Italy since Federica Faiella/Luciano Milo won the Ice Dance in the inaugural Junior Grand Prix Final back March 1998. Short Program leader Lucas Broussard (USA) was edged into silver. Nozomu Yoshioka of Japan climbed from fifth to earn the bronze medal.
Memola gave the home crowd what they wanted: an excellent, musical performance to “Samson and Delilah”. The tall Italian hit a double Axel, triple Axel-Euler-triple Salchow, another triple Axel as well as five more triples and two level-four jumps. The JGP Riga Champion earned 150.66 points and moved up to first place on 230.50 points.
Nikolaj Memola feels 'amazing' after winning Italy's first Junior Grand Prix Final title for 24 years © ISU
“I feel amazing, I wasn’t expecting that,” Memola said. “I started the season with the goal in mind coming here to Torino (for the Junior Final), but the first place was not my goal and then the medal came and I’m extremely happy. It’s great to skate on my home ice and also on the ice of Torino 2006 (Olympic Games). I was very nervous before the skate because I was thinking I had to do clean because I know the other skaters are extremely good. I just wanted to give everything of me, and when the music ended I did that (hit the ice) is like a greeting from myself. It was something I did to release some pressure.”
Skating to “The Leftovers” and “Compassion”, Broussard produced level-three spins as well as five clean triple jumps, but he slightly underrotated his triple Axel and two Lutzes. The JGP Egna Champion ranked third in the Free Skating with 139.32 points and slipped to second overall on 220.43.
Lucas Broussard (USA) had 'a lot of fun' despite dropping to second place after the Free Program © IS © ISU
“It’s really crazy just because I didn’t really expect to be here when I started the season with the back injury and I had to take a few months off the ice,” Broussard said. “I almost didn’t get any assignments, and to get a silver medal was not something I planned on and here we are. I’m exceedingly proud of myself, how I handled myself and mostly I’m just happy that I had a lot of fun.”
Yoshioka opened his performance to “Pirates of the Caribbean” with a quad toe-triple toe and followed up with seven triples including two Axels, but the triple flip-double Axel sequence was wobbly. The JGP Ostrava Champion scored 141.18 points and totaled 208.01.
Man overboard! Nozomu Yoshioka (JPN) made 'one major mistake' but still climbed from fifth to claim bronze © ISU
“In the Short Program I wasn’t able to perform well and today in the Free Skating I made one major mistake,” the Japanese Skater said. “However, I kept the other mistakes to the minimum. I barely made it to the third place but I’m very happy.”
Shunsuke Nakamura (JPN) dropped from third to fourth (198.64 points) after falling on two jumps. Robert Yampolsky (USA) came fifth (198.02) followed by Takeru Amine Kataise (JPN, 182.49).
Schedule of the event
The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, December 8: Junior Men, Junior Pairs, Junior Women’s Short Programs, Pairs & Men’s Short Programs
Friday, December 9: Junior Rhythm Dance, Junior Women’s & Pairs Free Skating, Rhythm Dance & Women’s Short Program
Saturday, December 10: Men’s, Junior Pairs & Junior Men’s Free Skating, Junior Free Dance, Free Dance, Women’s Free Skating
Sunday, December 11: Exhibition Gala
The ISU Grand Prix series started with Skate America in Norwood (USA) and continued with Skate Canada in Mississauga, followed by the Grand Prix de France in Angers and the John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield (GBR). The series then stopped at NHK Trophy in Sapporo (JPN) and Grand Prix Espoo (FIN). Great Britain hosted an ISU Grand Prix event for the first time. A total of 151 Skaters/Couples representing 29 ISU Members competed in the series: 44 Men, 45 Women, 26 Pairs and 36 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
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)
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