ISU

Miho Takagi (JPN) thrived on the support of her home crowd to collect two gold medals on the second day of the season-opening Speed Skating World Cup at the Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi Oval. The Obihiro native left the rest of the field almost two seconds behind in the 1500m, and went on to dominate the Team Pursuit together with Momoka Horikawa and Ayano Sato. Femke Kok (NED) started the competition on Saturday with gold in the second 500m to go on top of the 500m ranking together with Kimi Goetz (USA), who came third after Friday’s win.

Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) came from second place to capture their second ISU Grand Prix gold medal of the season as the Ice Dance event concluded at the Cup of China Saturday in Chongqing (CHN) with the Free Dance. Gilles/Poirier and silver medalists Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha (CAN) qualified for the ISU Grand Prix Final. The Cup of China is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series where the best Figure Skaters of the World compete and collect points towards the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10.

Newcomer Hana Yoshida (JPN) stormed to her first ISU Grand Prix gold as the Cup of China continued in Chongqing (CHN) Friday with the Women’s Free Skating. The Cup of China is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series with the World’s best Figure Skaters competing and vying for a spot in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10.

Japan’s skaters came out on top on home ice in the men’s field at the season-opening ISU World Cup in Obihiro on Friday. Tatsuya Shinhama, Wataru Morishige and Yuma Murakami (JPN) swept the podium in the 500m and Masaya Yamada (JPN) added gold in the 1000m at the Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi Oval. Bart Hoolwerf (NED) pipped world champion Bart Swings (BEL) to the line in the Mass Start to conclude Friday’s action. 

Top favorites Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps won the Pairs Short Program as the first competition day at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China concluded Friday in Chongqing (CHN). The Cup of China is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series that features the best Figure Skaters of the World. They compete and collect points hoping to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10. 

Kimi Goetz (USA) had a superb start to the international season, winning gold and bronze medals at the opening day of the ISU World Cup in Obihiro (JPN) on Friday. The American seized her career first 500m World Cup gold and added a bronze in her signature 1000m just a little over an hour later. Jutta Leerdam (NED) and Miho Takagi (JPN) took gold and silver in the double sprint distance, and Ivanie Blondin (CAN) concluded Friday’s women’s competition with gold in the Mass Start.  

World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN) shone and skated to a strong lead as the Cup of China continued Friday in Chongqing (CHN) with the Men’s Short Program. The Cup of China is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The top Figure Skaters of the World compete and collect points towards the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10. 

Despite a setback, Loena Hendrickx leads the Women’s Short Program, as the Figure Skating continued in Chongqing (CHN) Friday with the Cup of China. The competition is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series with the World’s best Figure Skaters competing and vying for a spot in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10. 

Majorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha (CAN) surprisingly took the lead as the Cup of China opened Friday in Chongqing (CHN) with the Rhythm Dance. The Cup of China is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series where the best Figure Skaters of the World compete and collect points towards the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10. 

It is with deep regret and sorrow that the ISU has learned of the passing of renowned Figure Skating coach Jutta Müller, who passed away at the age of 94 in Bernau, Germany on November 2, 2023.

Many skaters have already set fast times at national championships and qualifying events in the pre-season, but all at different venues and in different conditions. The start of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series 2023/24 in Obihiro (JPN) will put the athletes to the test internationally for the first time this season. Who will challenge three-time World Champion Jordan Stolz (USA)? And will Japan’s Miho Takagi (JPN) shine on home ice?

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series continues with the Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN). It is the fourth of six events of the Series in which the world’s best Figure Skaters try to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) next month. ISU World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN) will compete in his first event, as others including Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA), Loena Hendrickx (BEL) and Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) look to seal qualification for the ISU Grand Prix Final.

It is with deep regret and sorrow that the ISU has learned of the passing of two-time Olympic Pair Skating Champion Oleg Alekseevitch Protopopov, who died at the age of 91 on October 31, 2023 in Interlaken, Switzerland.

For the first time in four years, Asia welcomes the international Speed Skating elite to kick off the 2023/24 ISU World Cup Series. The six-leg series starts in Obihiro (JPN) this weekend, and visits the Olympic Oval in Beijing (CHN) a week later. With the addition of the Mixed Gender Relay, the ISU World Cup Speed Skating program features an exciting new competition. The ISU also this season adds commentary to the live stream of all its major events as an extra service to those who follow Speed Skating remotely (follow the ISU YouTube Channel and check the “Where to watch” webpage here).

It has been a fascinating contest between Canada and Republic of Korea at the ISU Four Continents Short Track Championships 2024 and the two nations went at it again in Laval on Sunday. Up-and-coming racer William Dandjinou (CAN), who honed his craft on this rink as a teenager, won the 1000m, dropping the current 1000m World Champion and ISU Crystal Globe holder Park Ji Won (KOR) into second place.