Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel won their first ISU Grand Prix at Skate America 2023 in Allen, USA © ISU
Reigning European bronze medalists Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel of Germany celebrated their first ISU Grand Prix victory edging Canada’s Lia Pereira/Trennt Michaud as the Pairs event concluded with the Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix Skate America in Allen, TX (USA) Saturday. The bronze went to the new team Chelsea Liu/Balasz Nagy (USA). The German and Canadian teams now hope to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final.
Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel on their way to Pairs gold at Skate America 2023 in Allen, USA © ISU
Overnight leaders Hocke/Kunkel opened their performance to “Without You” with a triple twist, but then Hocke missed the triple Salchow. The Germans rallied to produce a throw triple flip and loop as well as difficult level-four lifts. The 2023 ISU European bronze medalists earned 120.64 points and totaled 184.23 points to stay on top.
Hocke and Kunkel scored 120.64 in the Pairs Free Skating at Skate America 2023 in Allen, USA © ISU
“For me, it's always a little difficult to realize what we did and the placement when I didn't have a clean skate,” Hocke said. “There was again, unfortunately, a fall on the Salchow, but we tried to hold it together. We're proud of our throws, and we really, really tried to deliver up until the end,” Hocke concluded.
“But of course, it's a huge thing if you take a step back and look at it that we have won a Grand Prix. It's like everything we ever dreamed of. So in the end, it's a huge accomplishment for us.”
Skating to “The Gladiator” Pereira/Michaud landed a triple Salchow, triple twist and throw triple Salchow, but Pereira fell on the double Axel in a sequence with a triple toe. The team scored 119.37 points and accumulated 182.59 points to win their first ISU Grand Prix medal in their debut as a team.
Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud claimed silver at Skate America 2023 in Allen, USA © ISU
“It's our first Grand Prix together. We had a great week in total, great practices. Overall, it was a wonderful experience,” Pereira noted.
“Today is very special to us because it's the first Grand Prix medal, which is super exciting. Obviously it was a perfect skate, but we moved on and did the best with what we could and we're really happy with how our whole program went.”
Liu/Nagy not only competed in their first ISU Grand Prix, but are also skating in their first season together and to their own surprise made the podium. Their “Romeo and Juliet” Free Skating included a triple twist, double toe-double Axel sequence and throw double loop, but Liu crashed on the throw triple Salchow. Liu/Nagy posted a personal best of 116.43 points which added up to 177.66 points total.
Chelsea Liu and Balazs Nagy won Pairs bronze in their ISU Grand Prix debut at Skate America 2023 in Allen, USA © ISU
“I'm a little surprised,” Nagy admitted. “I don't ever think of placement when I compete. And after the short, I was like, oh, well, we are in third now, so it would be good to hold on to it. But it was also an extra pressure.
"This definitely means a lot to me being my first Grand Prix ever, my first Grand Prix with Chelsea and my first Grand Prix medal since the Junior Grand Prix.”
Valentina Plazas/Maximiliano Fernandez (USA) moved up from seventh to fourth place at 157.08 points while Isabelle Martins/Ryan Bedard (USA) slipped from fourth to fifth (154.66 points).
Hocke/Kunkel collected 15 points and will fight for a spot in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24at their next event, the Cup of China. Pereira/Michaud (13 points) will compete at the Internationaux de France and hope to get to the Final as well. Liu/Nagy (11 points) so far have not been assigned to a second ISU Grand Prix event.
ISU Grand Prix Standings
For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series consists of six events: Skate America, Skate Canada International, Grand Prix de France, Cup of China, the Grand Prix Espoo (FIN) and NHK Trophy(JPN). Skaters collect points to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN).
The General Announcement of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series is available here on the ISU website. The individual announcements are published on the ISU Event section under each dedicated Grand Prix event (filter with the relevant Event Series).
All Media Accreditation details and deadlines for the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series can be found here.
Where to Watch
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed on the official ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating YouTube Channel in most countries. Find out Where to watch the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competitions.
Subscribe to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 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:
20 - 22 Oct, 2023 Skate America, Allen, Texas (USA)
27 – 29 Oct, 2023 Skate Canada International, Vancouver (CAN)
3 - 5 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix de France, Angers (FRA)
10 - 12 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix Cup of China, Chongqing (CHN)
17 - 19 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN)
24 - 26 Nov, 2023 NHK Trophy, Osaka (JPN)
7 - 10 Dec, 2023 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Beijing (CHN)
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 events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline qualify for the Final.
.png)
