The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating series 2019/20 with its eight events including the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating was full of exciting moments. 394 young skaters/couples representing 68 ISU members competed in the 22nd season of the series from late summer to December that showcases the future of figure skating. The best of the best – the top six in each discipline - advanced to the Final in Torino in December. Historic moments and amazing performances highlighted the series. Let’s have a look back.
Junior Ladies: History was made
Alysa Liu (USA) became the first female skater to land a triple Axel and a quadruple jump (Lutz) in one program at the event in Lake Placid. Alysa also is the first to produce a triple Axel-triple toeloop combination in the Junior Ladies Short Program. A triple Axel is not allowed as the solo Axel in the Junior Ladies Short Program, but it is possible to do it in combination. Kamila Valieva (RUS) has joined the exclusive Ladies’ quad club as well and hit a quadruple toeloop in her two events in Courchevel and Chelyabinsk. In the Final, she rose from fourth in the Short Program to first overall with an exquisite performance, even without her quad toe. Her Short Program inspired by Picasso’s painting “The Girl on the Ball” is a memorable routine. Valieva set the highest total score for a Junior Lady with 221.95 points at her home event in Russia.
Haein Lee (KOR) at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
Haein Lee (KOR) became the first Korean Junior Lady in seven years to win a ISU Junior Grand Prix event and she did even twice so in Riga and Zagreb showing perfect performances in her Free Skating.
A total of 179 Junior Ladies competed in the series. ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Standings Ladies.
Junior Men: Breakthrough for Sato (JPN)
Shun Sato (JPN) stormed to gold in the Junior Final with a flawless Free Skating that featured three quadruple jumps – a quad Lutz and two toes. The skater from Sendai holds the highest total score for a Junior Man with 255.11 points. Andrei Mozalev (RUS) shone in the series as well, being the only competitor to collect two gold medals on the circuit and then taking silver in the Final. The event in Zagreb that Mozalev won was the most competitive one on the circuit and a tight battle for the spots in the Final. Fourteen-year-old youngster Daniil Samsonov (RUS) turned heads in his international junior debut season and came off with the bronze medal in the Final.
Daniil Samsonov (RUS) at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
The series featured 110 Junior Men. ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Standings Men.
Junior Pairs: Russia’s golden streak continues
Russia proved again that they are a Pair Skating hot spot. Five Russian Junior Pairs made the Final. 2019 World Junior silver medalists Apollinariia Panfilova/Dmitry Rylov (RUS) stood out with beautiful Pair Skating elements and completed their medal collection from the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final with the gold.
The couple from Perm holds the highest total score for a Junior Pair with 192.73 points from the event in Gdansk. Newcomers Diana Mukhametzianova/Ilya Mironov (RUS) pushed the technical limits by landing a side by side triple Lutz-double toe-double toe and side by side triple flip in their Free Skating. Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel (GER) became not only the first Junior Pair from Germany to qualify for the Final but they are also a brand new team that has been skating together for just about half a year.
Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel (GER) at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
Overall, 30 Junior Pairs participated in the series. ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Standing Pairs.
Junior Ice Dance: Kazakova/Reviya create historical moment for Georgia
Maria Kazakova/Georgy Reviya (GEO) wrote their names into Figure Skating history by becoming the first Georgian skaters to win the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final title. They did to with outstanding performances in Turin, setting the highest total score for a Junior Dance team with 174.90 points. Kazakova/Reviya are also the first Georgian Ice Dancers to win an ISU Junior Grand Prix event by striking gold in Zagreb. Avonley Nguyen/Vadym Kolesnik (USA) were excellent as well and were edged out for the gold in Turin by just 0.16 points in a very exciting Ice Dance Final.
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Avonley Nguyen and Vadym Kolesnik (USA) at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)
2019 ISU World Junior silver medalist Elizaveta Khudaiberdieva (RUS) started from scratch with new partner Andrey Filatov this season and the new team won their two Junior Grand Prix events to qualify for the Final where they just missed the podium.
In total, 75 Junior Ice Dance couples competed in the series. ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Standings Ice Dance
Full results, the General Announcement of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series are available on isu.org.
Full results, the General Announcement of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series are available on isu.org.
Relive the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2019
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