Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier (USA) compete at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier

Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier (USA) compete at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France. © ISU

Reigning World Champions Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) and Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) start into their ISU Grand Prix season as the Series kicks off with Skate America this week in Norwood, MA (USA). Jumping phenomena Ilia Malinin (USA) is expected to impress with his famous quad Axel.

Overview of the competitors

ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) aims at the top of the podium.

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Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) competes at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France.© ISU

Competition should come from 2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalist Haein Lee (KOR) and 2022 ISU World Junior Champion Isabeau Levito (USA). Levito debuts at the senior-level ISU Grand Prix. Others to watch include Ekaterina Kurakova (POL) and former U.S. Champion Gracie Gold.

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Haein Lee of Korea competes in the Ladies Free Skating during day 3 of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at Sud de France Arena on March 25, 2022 in Montpellier, France.© ISU

2022 ISU Four Continents Champion Junhwan Cha (KOR) comes fresh off a victory at the ISU Challenger event Finlandia Trophy (Oct. 5-9, 2022) and hopes to become the first Korean man to win an ISU Grand Prix event. However, 2022 ISU World Junior Champion Ilia Malinin (USA) is ready to challenge the Korean Champion and comes armed with his quadruple Axel to Norwood. Malinin is the first and so far only Skater to have successfully landed a quadruple Axel in competition.

2022 ISU European silver medalist Daniel Grassl (ITA), 2022 ISU Four Continents bronze medalist Kao Miura (JPN), Koshiro Shimada (JPN) and Roman Sadovsky (CAN) are eying the podium as well. Olympic and ISU World silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) has withdrawn from his two ISU Grand Prix events Skate America and Grand Prix de France due to injury.  

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Daniel Grassl (ITA) performs during the 2022 ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. © ISU

Reigning World Champions Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier (USA) are the top favorites in the Pairs event. 2022 Nebelhorn Trophy Champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps (CAN) are looking for their first ISU Grand Prix medal in Norwood. The event looks open with many young and new teams competing such as Letizia Roscher/Luis Schuster (GER), Anna Valesi/Manuel Piazza (ITA) and Valentina Plazas/Maximiliano Fernandez (USA).

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Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps (CAN) compete at the 2022 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.© ISU

Three-time World medalists Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) are leading the Ice Dance field.

 

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Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) compete at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France.© ISU

The challenge should come from 2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalists Kana Muramoto/ Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) and 2018 ISU Four Continents Champions Kaitilin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA). 2018 ISU Four Continents silver medalists Carolane Soucisse/Shane Firus (CAN), Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain Le Gac (CAN), Jennifer Janse van Rensburg/Benjamin Steffan (GER) as well as Lorraine McNamara/Anton Spiridonov (USA) also want to get to the podium as close as possible.

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Marie Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac (CAN) compete at the 2019ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Internationaux de France in Grenoble, France. © ISU

Schedule of the event

The schedule is as follows:


Friday, October 21:                  Pairs & Men’s Short Program
Saturday, October 22:             Rhythm Dance, Women’s Short Program, Pairs & Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, October 23:               Free Dance, Women’s Free Skating, Exhibition Gala

 

Skate America in Norwood (USA) October 21-23 is the first of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.

More than 150 Skaters/Couples representing 29 ISU Members have been invited. The maximum number of entries for each event is 12 Ladies, 12 Men, 8 Pairs and 10 Ice Dance couples.

The General Announcement of the 2022/23 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series is available here. The individual announcements are published under the respective events. Full entry lists and further information are available on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series page.

Selection Criteria

The Skaters are seeded and invited to the six Grand Prix of Figure Skating events based on the results of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022. Skaters/Couples who have placed 1 to 6 in each of the four categories are seeded and assigned to two events. Skaters/Couples who have placed 7-12 at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships are selected for two ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events, and Skaters with a top 24 Seasonal Best Scores (from the 2021/22 season) as well as those placed in the top 24 of the ISU World Standings can also be invited. If available, medalists from the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships can also be selected.

In order for a Skater/Couple to be eligible to compete at an ISU Grand Prix event, a minimum total score must have been achieved in the 2021/22 or current 2022/23 season in an ISU event (Grand Prix, Junior Grand Prix, Championships) or a Challenger Series event. Exceptions apply to host country Skaters, previously ranked Skaters or split ranked Couples who return with new partners. The minimum total score is 3/5 of highest score per discipline at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022 and are as follows: Women: 141.65, Men: 187.49, Pairs: 132.65, Ice Dance: 137.89.

Following the IOC recommendation and in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants of international ice skating competitions, the ISU Council based on Article 17.1.q)i) of the ISU Constitution, agreed that with immediate effect and until further notice, no Skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus) shall be invited or allowed to participate in International ice skating competitions including ISU Championships and other ISU Events. The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus (see ISU Communication 2469).

Grand Prix Standings

Men                  Women             Ice Dance         Pair Skating

Where to Watch

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed on the official ISU YouTube Channel in most countries. Find out where to watch the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competitions.

Subscribe to the ISU YouTube Channel to receive all the latest videos and follow the conversation with #GPFigure.

ISU Grand Prix Schedule

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

21 - 23 Oct, 2022          Skate America, Norwood (USA)

28 – 30 Oct, 2022          Skate Canada International, Mississauga (CAN)

04 - 06 Nov, 2022         Grand Prix de France, Angers (FRA)

11 - 13 Nov, 2022          MK John Wilson Trophy, Sheffield (GBR)

18 - 20 Nov, 2022          NHK Trophy, Sapporo (JPN)

25 - 27 Nov, 2022          Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN)

08 - 11 Dec, 2022          Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Torino (ITA)

 

About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s 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 Grand Prix 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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