Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) win the Ice Dance Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Beijing, China © ISU
Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) danced off with their first ISU Grand Prix Final gold as the Ice Dance event concluded at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Saturday in Beijing (CHN). The Final features the top six Skaters/Couples per discipline from the seven events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series competing against each other for the first time this season.
Chock/Bates are seventh time lucky at the Grand Prix Final
Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) have won the World title, Four Continents title and many ISU Grand Prix accolades and now finally added the last missing one to their illustrious resume with the gold at the ISU Grand Prix Final. Italy’s Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri claimed their third ISU Grand Prix Final medal – the first silver after two bronze. Canadians Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier took the bronze.
Overnight leaders Chock/Bates skated last and delivered an excellent performance to their Pink Floyd program “Time”. The ISU World Champions produced intricate footwork and innovative lifts, collecting a level four for five elements.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) in the Ice Dance Free Skatingl in Beijing, China © ISU
The ISU Four Continents Champions posted a new season’s best with 132.46 points. The couple totaled 221.61 points to win the title in their seventh appearance in the Final and after four silver medals.
“I guess seven is our lucky number,” joked Chock. “This has been a goal of ours for a long time. We've been to seven finals, and all of them have been wonderful. But I think this one is the best one so far,” she added.
“It's such a prestigious event, the top six teams from the Grand Prix circuit. So you know you're competing against the very best in the world, which means that we just have to up our level. This week, we really skated our best. So we're really pleased with the way everything went,” Bates noted.
Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri’s soft and flowing program “The Theory of Everything” was highlighted by smooth steps, lifts and spins with every movement matching the music.
(L-R) Silver medalists Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ITA), gold: Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA), bronze: Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (CAN)
The ISU World silver medalists received a level four for the lifts, spin, twizzles and her part of the circular steps to score 129.69 points, a season’s best. Overall the Italians accumulated 215.51 points.
Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ITA) in the Ice Dance Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Beijing, China © ISU
“We are very proud about our performances and our Free Dance tonight. We are proud of how we managed this competition. We didn’t have lot of time between NHK and the Grand Prix Final so we are not sure about our condition. Overall it was the best performance of the season so far,” Fabbri commented.
Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier had chosen another style with the dark and dramatic piece “Wuthering Heights”.
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (CAN) in the Ice Dance Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Beijing, China © ISU
The ISU World bronze medalists executed difficult footwork and lifts, picking up a level four for four elements. The Skate Canada Champions netted 128.41 points which added up to 213.58 points overall.
“We are proud of our performances at this competition. Every time you get out to compete this season it is for growth, and it showed us where we want to develop the programs for the next competition. And this competition was no different,” Poirier said. “So we're really proud of what we accomplished through this Grand Prix season. We're really looking forward to all work on all the things we want to improve upon as we head into the second half of the season.”
Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR) finished fourth with their entertaining “Rocky” Free Dance (202.27 points) while Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Soerensen (CAN) came fifth with their “Notre Dame de Paris” program on 195.57 points. Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha (CAN) ranked sixth at 193.63 points.
Full results are available here.
Schedule of the event
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.
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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