Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) takes gold at the ISU Grand Prix in Espoo, Finland © ISU
Two-time World Champion Kaori Sakamoto celebrated her second ISU Grand Prix victory of the season at the Grand Prix Espoo Saturday. The Grand Prix Espoo is the fifth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating serie 2023/24 with top Skaters of the world competing and collecting points towards the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10.
Confident victory for Kaori Sakamoto (JPN)
ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan won her second ISU Grand Prix event this season in style. Teammate Rion Sumiyoshi took the silver while Amber Glenn (USA) surged from 11th place on to the podium to earn the bronze.
Sakamoto nailed a double Axel, triple Lutz, triple flip-double toe, triple flip-triple toe and double Axel-triple toe-double toe in her routine to “Wild Is the Wing” and “Feeling Good”. Her spins and footwork all merited a level four. The two-time ISU World Champion scored 135.52 points and totaled 205.21 points for a win with 15 points to spare.
“This competition determines who goes to the final. My goal was to win two first places and proceed to the final. I wanted to skate without major mistakes and to win and I was able to do that,” Sakamoto said.
“Hopefully it will lead to another first place in the Grand Prix Final. I will be working hard towards that.”
Skating to “Enchantress” Sumiyoshi produced four clean triple jumps and level-four spins, but she underrotated and two-footed her quadruple toeloop.
Rion Sumiyoshi (JPN) in the Women’s Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix in Espoo, Finland © ISU
The Grand Prix de France bronze medalist received 121.56 points and ranked third in the Free Skating. With a total of 190.21, the Japanese Skater remained in second place.
“After the short program I felt if I do everything clean, I can maybe win this. Maybe this gave me a little less concentration,” Sumiyoshi said.
“I still have the chance to go to the final, but I am a little disappointed about my performance today. If I qualify for the Grand Prix Final this will be my next competition or Japanese Nationals. I want to show a perfect Short and Free program including the quad. I will be working hard.”
Glenn (USA) was trailing at a distant 11th place following the Short Program and had nothing to lose.
Amber Glenn (USA) in the Women’s Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix in Espoo, Finland © ISU
She went for a triple Axel, but popped it. Unfazed, she went on to reel off seven clean triples and level-four spins to set a new personal best of 133.78 points. She moved up to third with 185.39 points overall.
“I'm just surprised I'm up here right now,” Glenn said. “After yesterday, having such a devastating mistake in the short program and having the rest go awry as well, I came in today with the goal that I made after Skate America: put out a strong second half (of the program). I have been working very hard back at home to do that.
“Of course, there was the major mistake of a big single Axel out there, but I'm really not concerned because I know that I am so consistent with doing that in practice that it won't be an issue. I'm still in shock that I'm up here right now. I'm excited to see where the rest of the season goes.”
Chaeyeon Kim (KOR) missed her first triple Lutz and slipped from third to fourth at 181.42 points. Lorine Schild (FRA) came fifth at 175.71 points ahead of Nella Pelkonen (FIN) on 172.88 points.
Full results of the ISU Grand Prix Espoo see 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 towards 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.
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)
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 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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