Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud (CAN) in the Pairs Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating de France at Angers © ISU
Lia Pereira/Trennt Michaud (CAN) took their first ISU Grand Prix gold medal as competition wrapped up with the Pairs Free Skating at the Grand Prix de France Saturday in Angers (FRA). The Grand Prix de France is the third of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series that features top Figure Skaters competing and collecting points to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10.
Pereira/Michaud (CAN) skate to gold
Canada’s Lia Pereira/Trennt Michaud defended their overnight lead to celebrate their first ISU Grand Prix victory in their young career as a team. ISU European Champions Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii of Italy settled for the silver medal. France’s Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev made the home crowd happy by earning the bronze.
Pereira/Michaud completed a triple twist, throw triple loop and Salchow, difficult lifts and a level-four pair combination spin and death spiral. However, Michaud struggled with the solo jumps, falling on the double Axel and stepping out of the triple Salchow.
“We are very happy with how we skated today," said Pereira. "Every competition is still a new experience for us and today our new experience was skating last. There's a lot of stress that comes along with it, having to wait and hear the scores of everybody else.
“We tried to not let that affect us and to just skate as well as we could. It was amazing skating in front of this crowd, one of the biggest crowds we skated for, and we really feed off the energy of that.”
The Skate America silver medalists, skating to the stirring Gladiator soundtrack, set a new personal best of 128.70 points and accumulated 194.67 points overall. The Canadians are competing in their first Grand Prix season as a team.
“A year ago today was our first competition together, so it's been a whirlwind," said Michaud. "It's something special when you have a goal, obviously we push for it every day, but to know that what we've been putting into it is paying off is a super rewarding feeling. To have this event, to have Skate America and to now qualify for the final is something that we're super excited for."
Skating to “Cinema Paradiso”, Conti/Macii produced a triple twist, side by side triple Salchow, throw triple loop as well as strong lifts.
Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii (ITA) in the Pairs Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating de France at Angers © ISU
Conti stumbled on the double Axel in a combination with a triple toe and also on the throw triple Salchow. The 2023 ISU World bronze medalists earned 124.15 points for a total score of 189.46 points.
“We are not so happy with our free skating," said Conti. "There were a lot of mistakes in the jumps and in the throw and we missed a few points in the lift and the spiral.
"In Finland we have to skate clean, we have to skate better and we have to work a little bit stronger in the practices.
“We are a top couple and we have to stay here. We want to improve our program and will be ready for our next Grand Prix. We know we can do much better.”
Kovalev/Kovalev repeated their success from a year ago when they had won their first ISU Grand Prix medal here in Angers, the silver. Their evocative James Bond program featured a triple twist, triple toe-double toe-single Axel combination, as well as a throw triple Salchow.
Camille Kovalev and Pavel Kovalev (FRA) in the Pairs Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating de France at Angers © ISU
“We are pretty happy with our performance today. Technically it was close to our best," said Camille Kovalev. "We will work to improve the levels, the lifts and everything, but we are pretty happy.
"Now we will work more on speed and interpretation, because today it was a bit hard. We had a lot of stress. We wanted this medal and it gives us more stress, so it was hard to skate physically today.”
The husband-and-wife team achieved a season’s best with 113.84 points which added up to 172.88 points overall.
Valentina Plazas/Maximiliano Fernandez (USA) placed fourth on 168.20 points while Oceane Piegad/Denys Strekalin (FRA) moved up from seventh to fifth at 153.81 points.
Ellie Kam/Danny O’Shea (USA) withdrew after the morning practice citing injury. They stood in fifth place after the Short Program.
Peireira/Michaud got 15 points from their victory, and with a total of 28 points have qualified for the ISU Grand Prix Final. Conti/Macii collected 13 points and are looking to book their ticket to the Final at the second event Grand Prix Espoo in Finland in two weeks. Kovalev/Kovalev got 11 points and will compete again in Finland as well.
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).
ISU Grand Prix Standings
For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.
All Media Accreditations 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 with English commentary 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.
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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)
03 - 05 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)
07 - 10 Dec, 2023 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Beijing (CHN)
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