The second round of the ISU Figure Staking Grand Prix brought tears, drama and joy at the Cup of China. From US Stars Alyssa Liu and Amber Glenn, ice dance stars Madison Chock & Even Bates, the return of legendary pair Sui Wenjing & Han Cong, and the explosive Mikhail Shaidorov, viewers had plenty to enjoy.
Men’s
Japan’s Shun Sato put a smile on everyone’s face as he took the gold, claiming the title with 278.12 points and the utter euphoria of his coach. Sato has been somewhat in the shadow of his compatriot Yuma Kagiyama for some time, and if he can continue on this momentum, he could wind up having a rewarding Olympic season.
In second place, Daniel Grassl took silver with 269.43 points and a fantastic free skate to whilst Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov took bronze (262.67). Regarding hometown heroes, much beloved Boyang Jin claimed fifth with 232.81 points, and whilst this is certainly not the effervescent skater at his best, it marks a far stronger showing from him than his 8th place finish in the Cup of China last year.
Women’s
Smiles and tears abounded with a U.S. women’s 1-2, with Amber Glenn taking the gold (214.78) and Alysa Liu, one of the heroines of last season, earning silver (212.07).
This marks Glenn’s successful defence of her Cup of China title from last year, whilst Liu, the current world champion, still managed to pull off fantastic skates despite having to change her short program very recently. After the triple Japanese podium in France last week, the double U.S. podium and Japan’s Rinka Watanabe claming bronze (198.63) puts a strong stamp on the U.S. and Japanese dominance in this field thus far.
Pairs
Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina & Luka Berulava claimed gold with 217.24 points, however, all the news was past Olympic champions Sui Wenjing & Han Cong returned to the podium in third place (202.92). Given that this is their first competition since Beijing 2022, the anticipation to see the pair back on the ice could not have been higher, and fans were certainly with rewarded with two enjoyable – albeit not perfect – performances.
In second place (209.88), popular Italian pair Sara Contii & Niccolo Macii came out strong, but could not edge out a strong free skate from Metelkina / Berulava.
Ice Dance
Stars Madison Chock & Evan Bates left no-one in doubt of their dominance as they took the gold with 208.25 points. Taking the lead after the Rhythm Dance and remaining untouchable after the Free Dance, they’re staking their claim as one of the front-runners across the season and for the Olympics. Fellow U.S. pair Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik had a successful meet with a personal best and a silver medal (202.27).
Fan favourites from France, Evgeniia Lopareva & Geoffrey Brissaud, earned bronze with 196.60 points. Despite two strong skates, the U.S. pairs proved too far ahead for the French, although we should hopefully see much more from them going into Milano-Cortina.
Overall
U.S. Figure Skating should feel heartened after their Cup of China showing, and many more questions arise after another thrilling week. Will Shaidorov grow to reach the dizzying heights he did last season? Can Sato quietly stake his claim amongst the Olympic favourites? Is the women’s discipline the most wholesome and enjoyable it’s even been during an Olympic season? Can Sui / Han defend their Olympic title and can Chock / Bates nab Olympic gold?
A fantastic Cup of China tantalisingly dangles these questions before us all.
