Loena Hendrickx (BEL) performs during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Grand Prix de France in Angers, France.© ISU
The last spots for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino (December 8-11, 2022) are on the line as ISU World silver medallist Loena Hendrickx (BEL), rising star, and Skate America Champion Ilia Malinin (USA) as well as ISU World medalists Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) will compete at the sixth and last ISU Grand Prix event in Espoo, Finland, this week.
Women’s Category:
Reigning ISU World silver medalist Loena Hendrickx (BEL) is up against two-time ISU Four Continents Champion Mai Mihara (JPN). Both women come off a victory from their first ISU Grand Prix event – Hendrickx won in France while Mihara topped the podium in Sheffield (GBR) – and have excellent chances to qualify for the Final.
Mai Mihara (JPN) competes during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Sheffield, England.© ISU
Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO) has a shot at the Final as well following her bronze medal from the MK John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield. Others to watch include two-time ISU Four Continents Champion Rika Kihira (JPN) who continues her comeback, Canadian Champion Madeline Schizas as well as ISU World Junior bronze medalist Lindsay Thorngren.
Madeline Schizas (CAN) performs during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix Skate Canada International in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada..© Getty Images
Men’s Category:
Skate America Champion Ilia Malinin (USA), the first Skater to perform a quadruple Axel in competition, is the top favorite in Espoo.
Ilia Malinin (USA) performs at the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Skate America in Norwood,.© ISU
MK John Wilson Trophy bronze medalist Shun Sato (JPN) needs to finish at least second to go to the Final in Torino. However, competition should be tough with Keegan Messing (CAN), who narrowly missed the podium at Skate Canada, Camden Pulkinen (USA) ranked fifth in the World, 2019 ISU Grand Prix Finalist Kevin Aymoz (FRA) as well as 2020 ISU European bronze medalist Morisi Kvitelashvili (GEO) in the mix. These Men have slim or no chances to qualify for the Final at this time, but can take away points and medals. Aymoz missed his first Grand Prix in Angers (FRA) due to injury but won the ISU Challenger event Warsaw Cup last week, while Kvitelashvili hopes to improve on his eighth place from Sheffield (GBR).
Morisi Kvitelashvili (GEO) performs during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Sheffield, England..© ISU
Pairs Category:
In the Pairs event, the battle for the podium looks open with no medallists from the previous ISU Grand Prix events competing. Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini (ITA) and Anastasiia Metelkina/Daniil Parkman (GEO) came fourth at Grand Prix de France and MK John Wilson Trophy (GBR) respectively. The one of them that wins or comes second in Espoo can secure a spot in the Final.
Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini (ITA) compete during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Grand Prix de France in Angers, France.© ISU
Alisa Efimova/Ruben Blommaert (GER), who won the ISU Challenger Finlandia Trophy last month in Espoo have no chance to qualify as they withdrew from Skate Canada due to injury, but can take away important points. Other competitors include Anna Valesi/Manuel Piazza (ITA) and Anastasiia Smirnova/Danylo Siianytsina (USA).
Ice Dance Category:
In the Ice Dance event, the 2021 ISU World bronze medalists Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) lead the field and are looking to book their ticket to Torino following their victory on home ice at the Grand Prix in Mississauga (CAN).
Competition should come from Skate America silver medalists Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA) who are competing for a spot in the Final as well. The bronze medal is up for grabs with Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA), Natalie Taschlerova/Filip Taschler (CZE) Juulia Turkkila/Matthias Versluis (FIN) and Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu (CHN) in the mix. A total of 60 Skaters/Couples representing 14 ISU members have been entered for this event.
Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis (FIN) compete during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Grand Prix de France in Angers, France. © ISU
Schedule of the event
The schedule is as follows:
Friday, November 25: Pairs, Women’s & Men’s Short Programs, Rhythm Dance
Saturday, November 26: Pairs, Women’s & Men’s Free Skating, Free Dance
Sunday, November 27: Exhibition Gala
The Grand Prix Espoo in Espoo (FIN) November 25-27 is the sixth and last event in the 2022/23 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.
More than 150 Skaters/Couples representing 29 ISU Members have been invited to the Series. 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
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.
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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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