Exciting moments at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Ankara

Ankara, Turkey

 

Desrochers/Thrasher (CAN) compete during the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2024 in Ankara (TUR) @ISU

If you are looking for a thrilling competition, you just need to follow the ISU Junior Grand Prix series. The battle for the spots in the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final was in full swing at the fourth event of the  ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series 2024/25 in Ankara (TUR) September 19-21. Pair Skaters Jazmine Desrochers/Kieran Thrasher (CAN) and Ice Dancers Darya Grimm/Michail Savitskiy (GER) struck gold and should be headed to the Final next. Single Skating Champions Yuseong Kim (KOR) and Jacob Sanchez (USA) have now an excellent shot at making the Junior Final.

 

Yuseong Kim (KOR) hits triple Axel on her way to first JGP gold

Figure Skating is a family affair for Korea’s Yuseong Kim. Just two weeks after her twin sister Yujae earned the bronze in Ostrava, Yuseong skated to her first ISU Junior Grand Prix title in Ankara. Standing in second following the Short Program, Yuseong Kim pulled off a triple Axel and seven triple jumps plus difficult spins in her perfect Free Skating to “Hero” and “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” to take the title with a personal best of 198.63 points.

“I am really pleased that I accomplished my personal best here in Ankara and I am very happy to have won my first Junior Grand Prix”, Kim said and revealed that the triple Axel is her best and her favorite jump.

Women Medalists pose during the ISU Junior Grand Prix 2024 in Ankara (TUR). @ISU

Skating to the “Cinderella” soundtrack in her long program, Ami Nakai (JPN) went for a triple Axel as well, but missed. She recovered to land six triple jumps but nevertheless slipped from first to second at 191.61 points. Stefania Gladki (FRA) claimed the bronze, her second JGP medal this season after the silver in Ostrava. Will this be enough to qualify for the Junior Final that is held in her home country? Gladki will have to wait and see what happens next.

 

Jacob Sanchez (USA) celebrates first JGP title

Jacob Sanchez (USA) celebrated his first medal on the circuit since his JGP debut in 2021 – and it was gold! It was a confident victory with 15 points to spare. The 17-year-old started with a strong Short Program into the event and followed up with his Free Skating to “Io Ci Saro”. His program was highlighted by a triple Axel-triple toe but he fell on the solo triple Axel. Sanchez set a new personal best in both segments for a total of 220.25 points.

“I felt much better than in previous events and I am glad I was able to come here and to do what I did,” Sanchez commented. “It was definitely a very big step up and a brand new personal best for me.”

He also knew his key to success: “I really wanted to make some improvement in practice on how I approach my free skate. I’m very comfortable with the short program but the Free Skate has always been a mental game for me.” 

Sanchez currently has no second assignment but hopes to get one soon and it could be the sixth JGP in Ljubljana (SLO).

Men Medalists Junior Grand Prix Ankara (TUR) ISU 2172684313

Men Medalists pose during the ISU Junior Grand Prix 2024 in Ankara (TUR). @ISU

Shunsuke Nakamura (JPN) picked up the silver, his second medal this season after his bronze from Riga. He was one of two competitors in the event to try a quadruple jump, but it was not clean (205.49 points). Whether a second and third place will be enough for the Junior Final will depend on the next results.

The exquisite Arlet Levandi (EST) moved up from fifth place to take the bronze, his third JGP medal overall.

 

Jazmine Desrochers/Kieran Thrasher (CAN) headed for the Junior Final

Jazmine Desrochers/Kieran Thrasher (CAN) stepped it up from their first JGP this season in Riga where they won silver to earn their very first JGP title in Ankara. The reigning ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists were in the lead after a good Short Program and defended their first place with their Free Skating set to “Since I’ve Been Loving You”. The team impressed especially with their lifts and their triple twist and got a new personal best of 159.77 points. With gold and silver from their events, the Canadians are headed to their second consecutive ISU Junior Grand Prix Final.

“We feel great, amazing,” Desrochers said. “There aren’t any words I can describe this feeling.”

Thrasher reflected on their winning strategy: “We are just focusing on ourselves, not really worrying about the results. Yes, obviously it feels amazing to win but we rather have a good skate and maybe not win but it was good for us. Luckily, we did both here.”

Pairs Medalists Junior Grand Prix Ankara (TUR) ISU 2172448110

Pairs Medalists pose during the ISU Junior Grand Prix 2024 in Ankara (TUR). @ISU

2024 ISU World Junior silver medalists Olivia Flores/Luke Wang (USA) settled for the silver with their entertaining “Lion King” Free Skating (147.80 points). The couple most likely will be back in the Junior Final as well.

Sae Shimizu/Lucas Takeshi Honda (JPN) moved up from fourth place to earn the bronze, their first JGP medal (140.19 points). They were fourth in Ostrava and also are most likely qualified for the Junior Final with just one Pairs event to go next week in Gdansk.

 

Darya Grimm/Michail Savitskiy (GER) bounce back

It’s been a tough few weeks for ISU World Junior bronze medalists Darya Grimm/Michail Savitskiy (GER). Following their bronze medal finish in Riga, the couple had to win in Ankara to keep their chance to make the Junior Final. The Germans sat in third after the Rhythm Dance and they knew this wasn’t going to be enough. Grimm/Savitskiy went all out in their passionate Free Dance to “Adagio”, scored a seasons best and overtook the two couples ahead to earn the fourth ISU JGP title of their career (158.20 points).

“I’m so happy. Our mindset going in today was whatever happens, happens,” Grimm shared. “So we tried to do a clean skate. Our coaches although they are in Oberstdorf (at Nebelhorn Trophy) with the other skaters and our coach here, Barbora (Reznickova) supported us so much and told us just go for it and enjoy the skate. I really enjoyed the skate and didn’t think what the points or the placement are going to be.”

“Especially the past two weeks that we’ve spent in Egna, it was all about gathering the confidence, getting back in shape, not just physically, but also mentally,” Savitskiy explained. “This whole situation around us currently with the switch of the coaches, it’s all been a mentally stressful situation and we’re so thankful to the entire team in Egna for getting us through those two weeks and helping us in every single aspect.”

Ice Dance Medalists Junior Grand Prix Ankara (TUR) ISU 2172679158

Ice Dance Medalists pose during the ISU Junior Grand Prix 2024 in Ankara (TUR). @ISU

Iryna Pidgaina/Artem Koval (UKR) led in the Rhythm Dance but slipped to second in their Free Dance to “SOS d’un terrien en détresse” (157.01 points). The up and coming team of Hana Maria Aboian/Daniil Veselukhin (USA) came fresh from a silver medal in Bangkok and now earned the bronze (155.96 points)

A total of 124 Skaters/Couples from 36 countries competed in Ankara. You can re-live all the action and the winners’ interviews at the ISU YouTube channel. Tune in again when the series continues with the fifth event in Gdansk (POL) next week.

 

Follow the ISU Junior Grand Prix events:

The schedules of each ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

 

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final:

 

Where to Watch?

The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed on the official ISU YouTube channel in most countries.

 

How do skaters qualify for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final?

Skaters compete in a maximum of two events and collect points. The top six Single Skaters, Pairs and Ice Dance Couples will then qualify for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Grenoble (FRA) December 5-8, 2024, where they will be competing for the final JGP title.

Check out the ISU Junior Grand Prix Standings to find out who is on their way to qualify for the Final:

Men      Women            Pair Skating      Ice Dance

 

More information

Full entry lists, results, the General Announcement and further information are available on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series page.

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