With the conclusion of the sixth and last qualifying event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2013/14 in Moscow (RUS), the six finalists in each category have been determined. 24 skaters/couples from eight ISU members have qualified and will compete in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Fukuoka (JPN) December 5-8. The Final features reigning World Champions Patrick Chan (CAN), Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov (RUS) and Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) as well as five reigning World medalists. The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is the first and only event where most of the World’s current top skaters will meet before the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi (RUS).
A total of 119 skaters/couples representing 18 countries from Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan competed in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2013/14. The six events of the series were Hilton Hhonors Skate America in Detroit (USA), Skate Canada in St. John (CAN), Lexus Cup of China in Beijing (CHN), NHK Trophy in Tokyo (JPN), Trophée Bompard in Paris (FRA) and Rostelecom Cup in Moscow (RUS).
Several outstanding performances highlighted the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series this fall. World Champion Patrick Chan (CAN) set new highest scores with 98.52 points in the Short Program, 196.75 points in the Free Skating and 295.27 points total score (all at Trophée Bompard). World Champions Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov (RUS) also posted new highest scores at Skate America: 83.05 points for the Short Program, 154.66 points for the Free Skating and 237.71 points overall. World Champions Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) earned a new personal best score in the Free Dance at NHK Trophy with 112.95 points. Newcomers Anna Pogorilaya (RUS) and Han Yan (CHN) stole the spotlight by winning the very first senior-level Grand Prix events of their career.
Chan and Tatsuki Machida (JPN) won their two events and lead the Men’s Grand Prix standings. Chan is the top qualifier with gold medals from Paris and his home event in St. John. Machida claimed victory at Hilton Hhonors Skate America and Rostelecom Cup. 2012 World bronze medalist Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) and 2012 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion Maxim Kovtun (RUS) advance to the Final with two silver medals from their events. Defending Grand Prix Final Champion Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) earned his spot with a gold medal from NHK Trophy and by finishing fourth in Detroit. 2012 World Junior Champion Yan qualified with a gold from China and a fourth place finish in France. Kovtun and Yan made it to the Final in their debut on the senior Grand Prix circuit.
The substitutes are Nobunari Oda (JPN), Adam Rippon (USA) and Jason Brown (USA).
World silver medalist and defending Grand Prix Final Champion Mao Asada (JPN) and 2012 World Junior Champion Julia Lipnitskaia (RUS) top the Ladies’ standings. Both struck gold in their two events: Asada at Hilton Hhonors Skate America and NHK Trophy, Lipnitskaia at Skate Canada and at Rostelecom Cup. Reigning Grand Prix Final silver medalist Ashley Wagner (USA) returns to the event with two silver medals from Detroit and Paris. Anna Pogorilaya (RUS) booked her ticket to Japan with a victory at Lexus Cup of China and a bronze medal at Trophee Bompard. Adelina Sotnikova (RUS) and Elena Radionova (RUS) made it with a silver and a bronze medal. The four Russian Ladies will compete in their first Grand Prix Final. Lipnitskaia had qualified last year but dropped out because of injury before the event.
The substitutes are Akiko Suzuki (JPN), Carolina Kostner (ITA) and Gracie Gold (USA).
Reigning Grand Prix Final Champions Volosozhar/Trankov as well as reigning World silver medalists Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) won their two Grand Prix events. The Russians competed in Detroit and Tokyo while the Germans were in Beijing and Moscow. They are joined by Qing Pang/Jian Tong (CHN), who struck gold in Paris and were silver medalists at their home event Lexus Cup of China. Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch (CAN), World bronze medalists Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford (CAN) and Cheng Peng/Hao Zhang (CHN) all qualified with a silver and a bronze medal from the circuit. Peng/Zhang are the only newcomers to the Final, but Zhang had competed several times in the Final with his previous partner.
The substitutes are Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN), Stefania Berton/Ondrej Hotarek (ITA) and Vera Bazarova/Yuri Larionov (RUS).
World Champions Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) and World silver medalists Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir (CAN) qualified with two gold medals from their two events. Davis/White won in the USA and in Japan, Virtue/Moir came out on top in Canada and in France. Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev (RUS) and Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat (FRA) picked up a gold and a silver medal en route to the Final. Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje (CAN) and Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte (ITA) qualified with two silver medals for Fukuoka. All couples have been to the Final before.
The substitutes are Elena Ilinykh/ Nikita Katsalapov (RUS), Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani (USA) and Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA).
For full standings of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2013/14 please click here