Torino, Italy

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Olympic and ISU World Figure Skating Champions as well as exciting newcomers highlighted the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series 2019/20 with their amazing performances. After six weeks of intense competition at the six stops of the circuit in Las Vegas (USA), Kelowna (CAN), Grenoble (FRA), Chongqing (CHN), Moscow (RUS) and Sapporo (JPN) the best of the best met for the first big showdown in Torino (ITA) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.

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Madison Chock and Evan Bates(USA) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

New kids on the block step it up in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series

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Anna Shcherbakova (RUS) at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating (CHN) 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

The series opened traditionally with Skate America in October, this time in glamorous Las Vegas. Anna Shcherbakova was the first of the young Russian “A-Team” that had moved up from the junior level to strike and she soared from fourth to first to take gold in her senior-level ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating debut. She hit two quadruple Lutzes en route – which was a first for a Lady in the senior event.

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Nathan Chen (USA) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

Two-time ISU World Figure Skating Champion Nathan Chen (USA) continued his winning ways and debuted his entertaining “Rocketman” Free Skating. Pair skaters Cheng Peng/Yang Jin (CHN) celebrated their first ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating gold medal.

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Alexsandra Trusova (RUS) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (RUS) 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

At Skate Canada, the next A-Team member stepped on to the Grand Prix scene: two-time ISU World Junior Figure Skating Champion Alexandra Trusova (RUS) went for four quads in the Free Skating, landed three of them and broke the 100-points-barrier in the technical element score. The 15-year-old also set a new highest score in the Free Skating (166.62) and overall (241.02) at the time. Two-time Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) put on a great show as well, winning with 60 points to spare. Ice Dancers Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) claimed their first ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating gold medal in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. Bronze medalists Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR) became the first British skaters to win a medal on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in five years.

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Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (GBR) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (CAN) 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

At the Internationaux de France in Grenoble A-Team member Alena Kostornaia (RUS) conquered the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating with a win over Olympic and ISU World Figure Skating Champion Alina Zagitova (RUS). Four-time Ice Dance ISU World Figure Skating Champions Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) posted a new highest score of 88.69 points in the Rhythm Dance and turned many heads with their daring outfits to “Fame”. Kevin Aymoz (FRA) shed tears of joy when he won his first ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating medal, the bronze, in his home town and in the rink he started skating. 2019 ISU World Junior Pairs Champions Anastasia Mishina/Alexander Galliamov (RUS) debuted with a bang on the senior-level ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and struck gold.

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Wenjing Sui and Cong Han (CHN) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (CHN) 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

At Shiseido Cup of China in Chongqing two-time ISU World Figure Skating Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) returned in style to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating circuit after sitting it out last season. Two-time ISU World bronze medalist Boyang Jin (CHN) won his first ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating gold medal as did 2019 World silver medalists Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov (RUS).

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Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii (RUS) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (RUS) 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

At Rostelecom Cup, young pair skaters Aleksandra Boikova/Dmitrii Kozlovskii (RUS) shone like in Canada and claimed their second ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating gold this season. Two-time ISU World Figure Skating Champion Evgenia Medvedeva (RUS) impressed with a personal best in the Short Program and Alexander Samarin (RUS) stood on the top of an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating podium for the first time.

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Rika Kihira (JPN) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (JPN) 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

NHK Trophy saw a great battle between Kostornaia and Rika Kihira (JPN), who reeled off their triple Axels in both programs. Kostornaia set a new highest Short Program score with 85.04 points. Papadakis/Cizeron broke the 90-points barrier in the Rhythm Dance, smashing their own record score from Grenoble. The Olympic silver medalists went on to achieve a new highest score in the Free Dance with 136.58 points and overall (226.61 points). Hanyu scored another runaway victory.

First showdown of the best at the ISU Grand Prix Final

The first showdown of the best was scheduled at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Nathan Chen came out on top in the battle of the quad kings, setting a new highest Free Skating score (224.92 points) and highest total score (335.30 points). Hanyu had to settle for silver, but landed a quad Lutz in competition for the first time in two years. Aymoz earned the bronze in his debut at the Final.

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Kevin Aymoz (FRA) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

The Russian A-Team swept the Ladies podium: Kostornaia broke her own Short Program record score from NHK Trophy with 85.45 and achieved a new highest total score of 247.59 points. Shcherbakova got second and bronze medalist Trusova became the first female skater to land a quadruple flip in competition. Zagitova’s Short Program was another highlight.

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Elena Kostornaia (RUS) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

Sui/Han won their first ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final title after having collected silver and bronze medals before. Peng/Jin overcame a special challenge – his luggage with his skates was lost for several days on the way to Italy – to take the silver. Mishina/Galliamov continued a successful senior ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating debut season by earning the bronze.

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Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

Papadakis/Cizeron were once again untouchable and danced to their second ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final gold medal. Silver medalists Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) returned to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final podium after three years.

Overall, 41 Ladies, 40 Men, 27 Pairs and 34 Ice Dance couples representing 24 ISU members competed in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series.

Relive the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2019

Viewers are able to watch interviews and highlights on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel.