Here she comes again: Japan’s Mao Shimada gets ready to shine on the ISU Junior circuit. The 14-year-old won each international competition she entered in the past season, including the ISU World Junior Championships and Junior Grand Prix Final titles.
Reigning ISU World Junior bronze medallist Ami Nakai (JPN) and Rio Nakata (JPN) are the first Skaters to secure their spots for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final by coming first and second respectively at the latest ISU Junior Grand Prix event that took place on September 6-9, 2023, in Istanbul (TUR). The new Pair made of Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava (GEO), Ice Dancers Mariia Pinchuk/Mykyta Pogorielov (UKR) as well as Minkyu Seo (KOR) competing in the Men category, all struck gold. Istanbul was the third ISU Junior Grand Prix event of the season.
Two-time World Junior silver medallist Jia Shin (KOR), Adam Hagara (SVK), newcomers Martina Ariano Kent/Charly Laliberte Laurent (CAN) and Ice Dancers Darya Grimm/Michail Savitskiy (GER) took the first important step towards the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final by skating off with gold at the Cup of Austria in Linz (August 30 – September 2, 2023). The Cup of Austria was the second ISU Junior Grand Prix event of the season.
We’re getting closer to the official start of the skating season with the first ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating event in Bangkok, Thailand, later this month. Before we are fully switching to competition mode, we have some more news and updates for you.
It is with deep regret and sorrow that the ISU has learned of the passing of former Ice Dancer and Olympian Alexandra Paul (CAN) who tragically lost her life in a motor vehicle accident on August 22, 2023 at age 31.
The ISU Junior Grand Prix Series is live! The next generation of up and coming young Figure Skaters started off with an exciting competition in Bangkok (THA) with Ami Nakai (JPN), Rio Nakata (JPN) and Ice Dancers Leah Neset/Artem Markelov (USA) taking the top prizes. It was also a premiere for Thailand, that hosted an ISU Junior Grand Prix event for the very first time.
The next generation of up and coming young Figure Skaters is ready to step on to the international scene as the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series 2023/24 starts.
The moment comes sooner or later for every athlete – the moment to end the competitive career. It is not an easy step as you have change your lifestyle and find new goals. Canadian Pair Skater Eric Radford, 38, did it even twice.
We’re getting closer to the official start of the skating season with the first ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating event in Bangkok, Thailand, later this month. Before we are fully switching to competition mode, we have some more news and updates for you.
Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) has been selected as a finalist for the Women’s Sports Foundation’s 2023 Individual Sportswoman of the Year Award.
The International Skating Union (ISU) today announced the appointment of Colin Smith as its new Director General. Following an extensive and global search process, the ISU Council decided he is the right person to take the ISU as an organization and the ISU sports to the next level. Colin will succeed Fredi Schmid, who has been the ISU Director General since 1996 and retires effective at the end of 2023. Colin will join the ISU in October 2023 to ensure a smooth transition, and effective January 1, 2024, he will assume all responsibilities of the ISU Director General.
The 2022 Olympic bronze medalist and two-time World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) is a trendsetter. It starts with her energetic way of skating and does not end with her exciting programs. The upbeat 23-year-old defended her World title last March in her home country, becoming the first Japanese Skater to win back-to-back World titles (teammate Shoma Uno followed her example in the Men’s event by remaining the reigning World Champion this year after his win in 2022).
Canadian Ice Dancers and silver medalists at the 2023 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen acknowledge that there is still more to be done behind the scenes to achieve true equity and diversity in the sport.
You can’t wait for the season to start? The Skaters are getting more and more excited as well. Let’s see what they have been up to recently.
A winter sports athlete lays the foundation for success in the summer. However, with all the intense training and ongoing preparation for the season ahead, it is also important to balance with physical and mental recovery routines.