The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series continues this week with the Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN). The Grand Prix Espoo is the fifth of six events of the series in which the world’s best Figure Skaters compete and collect points towards the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10. Several Skaters hope to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final including ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) and ISU European Pairs Champions Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA).
Fifth stop: Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN) (Nov. 17-19, 2023)
Women contenders
Reigning ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) comes to Finland as the hot favorite. She already has a confident victory from Skate Canada under her belt and now is looking to assure her spot in the Grand Prix Final. Skate Canada silver medalist Chaeyeon Kim (KOR) is aiming for the podium and the Final as well. Rion Sumiyoshi (JPN), the bronze medalist from Grand Prix de France, also still has a shot at making the Final. Others to watch include Amber Glenn (USA), who was fifth at Skate America, Starr Andrews (USA) and Nella Pelkonen (FIN).
Kaori Sakamoto already has one gold this season from Skate Canada in October 2023 © ISU
Men contenders
Current ISU Four Continents Champion Kao Miura (JPN) leads the Men. Following his second place at Skate Canada, he wants to book his ticket to the Beijing Final in Espoo. Competition will come from Skate America silver medalist Kevin Aymoz (FRA), ISU European silver and Skate Canada bronze medalist Matteo Rizzo (ITA) and Skate America bronze medalist Shun Sato (JPN), all of whom can still reach the Final. Other competitors are Koshiro Shimada (JPN), Arlet Levandi (EST), Nikolaj Memola (ITA) and Jimmy Ma (USA).
Kao Miura celebrates his silver medal at Skate Canada in October 2023 © ISU
Pairs contenders
ISU European Champions Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA), who took the title in Espoo in January, headline the Pairs field. The battle for the podium and for Grand Prix points promises to be interesting. Conti/Macii come with a silver medal from France to Finland. They are up against Skate Canada silver medalists Maria Pavlova/Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN), Cup of China bronze medalists Cheng Peng/Lei Wang (CHN) and a new team, Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin (GER), who will compete in their first senior Grand Prix together, having won two ISU Challenger events earlier this season. Grand Prix de France bronze medalists Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev (FRA) are also in the mix. And while Ellie Kam/Danny O’Shea (USA) have no chance of making the Final after withdrawing in France due to injury, they can still “steal” points from others.
Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii head to Finland after winning silver at the Grand Prix de France 2023 © ISU
Ice Dance contenders
ISU World Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) enter their second Grand Prix event this season with a gold from Skate America already under their belts. They will face a challenge from Grand Prix de France silver medalists Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Soerensen (CAN). The battle for the podium should be exciting with ISU European bronze medalists Juulia Turkkila/Matthias Versluis (FIN), Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA), Emilia Zingas/Vadym Kolesnik (USA) and ISU World Junior Champions Katerina Mrazkova/Daniel Mrazek (CZE) all vying for a medal.
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Madison Chock and Evan Bates are going for their second gold after winning at Skate Canada in October 2023 © ISU
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series consists of six events: Skate America, Skate Canada International, Grand Prix de France, Cup of China, the Grand Prix Espoo (FIN) and NHK Trophy (JPN). Skaters collect points towards to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN).
ISU Grand Prix Standings
The General Announcement of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series is available here on the ISU website. The individual announcements are published on the ISU Event section under each dedicated Grand Prix event (filter with the relevant Event Series.
For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.
All Media Accreditations details and deadlines for the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series can be found here.
Where to Watch
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed with English commentary on the official ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 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:
20 - 22 Oct, 2023 Skate America, Allen (Texas, USA)
27 – 29 Oct, 2023 Skate Canada International, Vancouver (CAN)
03 - 05 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix de France, Angers (FRA)
10 - 12 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix Cup of China, Chongqing (CHN)
17 - 19 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN)
24 - 26 Nov, 2023 NHK Trophy, Osaka (JPN)
07 - 10 Dec, 2023 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Beijing (CHN)
About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known as 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 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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