Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (GEO) win the Junior Pairs Short at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Beijing, China © ISU
Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava (GEO) took a dominating lead as the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final continued Thursday in Beijing (CHN) with the Junior Pairs Short Program. The Final features the top six Skaters/Couples per discipline from the seven events of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating series.
Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava (GEO) steal the show in Junior Pairs Short
Hot favorites Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava of Georgia skated to a commanding lead in the Junior Pairs Short Program, winning the segment with 12 points to spare. Canadians Ava Rae Kemp/Yohnatan Elizarov and Martina Ariano Kent/ Charly Laliberte Laurent follow in second and third place.
Metelkina/Berulava put out a strong performance of their entertaining program to “Summertime”, completing a triple twist, side by side double Axel, a throw triple loop and a level-four lift. Only the side by side spin was not in sync. The two-time ISU Junior Grand Prix Champions set a personal best with 70.48 points.
“We are very pleased, but there were a few minor issues and we will fix them very soon. I mean the spin”, Berulava said. “At the beginning of the season, we did not know that we’d get to senior Grand Prix, we only had one for sure and therefore decided to compete in juniors,” he explained.
“We are trying to skate clean first of all and to give our best performance for ourselves. We are not looking at the scores of other teams,” Metelkina added when asked about being competitive at the senior level.
Kemp/Elizarov’s program to “Monde Inverse” was highlighted by a double Axel, throw triple loop and level-four step sequence. The JGP Poland Champions earned a personal best of 57.91 points.
Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov (CAN) in Junior Pairs Short at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Beijing, China © ISU
“Our goal was to score two personal bests, so one half is already done. We are very happy about today’s skate. There was a mistake on the spin so we lost some points there,“ Kemp said.
The couple had qualified for the Junior Final a year ago, but was forced to withdraw due to injury.
“After last year we were so happy to be there. After the last training we just said, yes, it’s real, we are really going,” Elizarov said.
Skating to “I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)”, Ariano Kent/Laliberte Laurent landed a triple twist and double Axel, but she fell on the throw triple loop. Nevertheless, the ISU Junior Grand Prix Austria Champions managed a personal best with 55.97 points.
Martina Ariano Kent and Charly Laliberte Laurent (CAN) in Junior Pairs Short at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Beijing, China © ISU
“It feels amazing to be there, the ice is great and it’s so inspiring to skate here with the seniors. We are especially looking up to Deanna (Stellato-Dudek) and Max (Deschamps). They are so inspiring,“ Ariano Kent told the press.
“I actually had a small concussion and also several problems with my skates recently. I had to change them twice. We only had two weeks of training before coming here. But these have been going great. Considering the problems we had, we just came here to have fun,“ she added.
Jazmine Desrochers/Kieran Thrasher (CAN) remain close to the podium in fourth place at 54.91 points followed closely by Olivia Flores/Luke Wang (USA) in fifth (54.37 points). 2023 ISU World Junior bronze medalists Violetta Sierova/Ivan Khobta (UKR) are currently ranked sixth (47.52 points).
For full results, see here.
Schedule of the event
Thursday, December 7: Junior Men’s, Junior Women’s & Pairs Short Programs, Men’s & Junior Pairs Short Programs
Friday, December 8: Junior Rhythm Dance, Pairs Free Skating, Junior Women’s Free Skating, Women’s Short Program & Rhythm Dance
Saturday, December 9: Junior Free Dance, Junior Pairs & Junior Men’s Free Skating, Free Dance, Women’s & Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, December 10: Exhibition Gala
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series consisted of six events: Skate America, Skate Canada International, Grand Prix de France, Cup of China, the Grand Prix Espoo (FIN) and NHK Trophy (JPN).
A total of 154 Skaters/Couples competed in the series: 46 Men, 43 Women, 29 Pairs and 36 Ice Dance couples.
The General Announcement of the 2023/24 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.
Prize Money
The global prize money made available by the ISU for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final isUS$ 272.000,00.
Men and Women Pair Skating and Ice Dance (per Couple)
1st place: US$ 25,000.00 US$ 25,000.00
2nd place: US$ 18,000.00 US$ 18,000.00
3rd place: US$ 12,000.00 US$ 12,000.00
4th place: US$ 6,000.00 US$ 6,000.00
5th place: US$ 4,000.00 US$ 4,000.00
6th place: US$ 3,000.00 US$ 3,000.00
ISU Grand Prix Standings
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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Selection Criteria
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).
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