Top seed Lucas Broussard (USA) took the lead in the Junior Men’s Short Program, setting a new personal best score, as the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final kicked off Thursday in Torino (ITA). To the delight of the home crowd, Italy’s Nikolaj Memola placed second followed by Shunsuke Nakamura of Japan.
Skating to ‘Adios Nonino’, Broussard put out a strong performance that featured a triple Axel, triple Lutz-triple toe and the mandatory triple loop (for Juniors) as well as two level-four spins and level-four footwork. The two-time Junior Grand Prix Champion set a new personal best significantly with 81.11 points. He did so in spite of a recent injury.
Lucas Broussard (USA) overcame a recent hip injury to post a personal best in the Junior Men's Short Program in Torino (ITA) © ISU
“I'm proud of myself. I accomplished all my goals. I think I am just really proud of myself for being able to have fun,” he said.
“[The preparation] was very rocky, I had to take like a week off for a hip thing that I've had before. It was very, very hard to train, but I had to do it and it paid off today,” he shared.
Memola’s program to ‘Prelude No. 2’ by Sergei Rachmaninov was highlighted by a triple Axel, triple Lutz-triple toe combination, triple loop and difficult spins and footwork. The Junior Grand Prix Riga Champion scored 79.84 points.
“I’m satisfied, I’m not upset that i’m second, I’m just happy that I did a clean skate,” the Italian told the press.
Nikolaj Memola (ITA) delighted the home crowd with his second place on the Olympic ice in Palavela © ISU
“It’s very important to me that I did such a good skate at home, in Italy and on the Olympic ice (in Palavela, the venue of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games).
"It was fantastic to have the crowd support, who are supporting not just me but everyone - it’s a great emotion.”
Nakamura put out a solid program to ‘El Conquistador’ and conquered the triple Axel as well as the triple loop and triple Lutz-triple toe to earn 74.81 points.
“I am really happy that I was able to perform with no mistakes at this competition,” he commented.
Shunsuke Nakamura (JPN) put in a solid Short Program to lie third after the opening event of the Junior Grand Prix Final © ISU
Robert Yampolsky (USA) is not far behind in fourth place at 73.31 points followed by Nozomu Yoshioka (JPN) on 66.83 points and Takeru Amine Kataise (JPN) at 58.19 points.
Schedule of the event
The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, December 8: Junior Men, Junior Pairs, Junior Women’s Short Programs, Pairs & Men’s Short Programs
Friday, December 9: Junior Rhythm Dance, Junior Women’s & Pairs Free Skating, Rhythm Dance & Women’s Short Program
Saturday, December 10: Men’s, Junior Pairs & Junior Men’s Free Skating, Junior Free Dance, Free Dance, Women’s Free Skating
Sunday, December 11: Exhibition Gala
The ISU Junior Grand Prix started in August with the event in Courchevel (FRA) and continued in September and October in Ostrava (CZE), Riga (LAT), Gdansk (POL) and Egna-Neumarkt (ITA). The event in Yerevan (ARM) had to be cancelled due to safety concerns and the entries were allocated to the three remaining events. Gdansk hosted two events, taking over for Grenoble (FRA) that returned one JGP.
Full entry lists, results, the General Announcement and further information are available on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series page.
Selection Criteria
A total of 367 young Skaters/Couples from over 50 ISU Members competed in this year’s Series. Each ISU Member is entitled to enter competitors for the Series while the number of their entries depends on the result of the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2022.
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).
Junior Grand Prix Standings
Men Women Ice Dance Pair Skating
Where to Watch
The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating events are live streamed on the official ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating YouTube Channel in most countries. Find out where to watch the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating competitions.
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ISU Junior Grand Prix Schedule
The schedules of each ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating events are available below:
24 - 27 Aug 2022 Courchevel/FRA
31 Aug - 3 Sept 2022 Ostrava/CZE
7 - 10 Sept 2022 Riga/LAT
21 - 24 Sept 2022 Yerevan/ARM (cancelled)
28 Sept - 1 Oct 2022 Gdansk/POL
5 - 8 Oct 2022 Gdansk/POL
12 - 15 Oct 2022 Egna/ITA
08 - 11 Dec 2022 ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Torino (ITA)
