ISU

The eagerly awaited second edition of the World Ice Skating Day (WISD) is set to dazzle on December 3, 2023. This event promises a spectacular array of global celebrations, showcasing ice skating sports in the most entertaining, imaginative, and inclusive ways. The anticipation is building as the picturesque town of Lake Placid (USA) prepares to host the crown jewel of the WISD - the World Ice Skating Day 2023 “Main Event”. This exciting event will be held at the iconic Olympic Center in Lake Placid, organized by the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) in collaboration with the International Skating Union (ISU) and supported by US Figure Skating and US Speed Skating.

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). 

Ragne Wiklund (NOR) won the 3000m, beating Miho Takagi’s 2020 home ice track record by a two-second margin to conclude women’s competition at the first ISU World Cup event of the season in Obihiro. With the Mixed Gender Relay making its debut on the World Cup program, the enthusiastic crowd enjoyed a spectacular finale at the at the Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi Oval on Sunday. Wesly Dijs and Femke Kok took gold for the Netherlands and were enthusiastic about the event’s future potential, despite a few hiccups.

Japanese sprinters Wataru Morishige and Tatsuya Shinhama share the World Cup lead after the first two 500m races in Obihiro. After Shinhama had won gold and Morishige silver on Friday, the two swapped places on the podium on Sunday. To conclude the men’s competition at the Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi Oval, Patrick Roest (NED) won the 5000m in a track record time of 6 minutes and 10.99s.

Top favorites Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps claimed their second Grand Prix gold medal this season as competition wrapped up at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of ChinaSaturday in Chongqing (CHN). The Cup of China is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series that features the best Figure Skaters of the world. They compete and collect points hoping to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10. 

Being pain-free was all it took for Masaya Yamada (JPN) to join the World’s speed skating elite. Having recovered from an ankle injury that had hampered him over the past three years, he has started the ISU World Cup season with two gold medals at home in Obihiro.

ISU European Champion Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) beat ISU World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN) to win the third ISU Grand Prix gold medal of his career, as the Cup of China continued Saturday in Chongqing (CHN) with the Men’s Free Skating. The Cup of China is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The top Figure Skaters of the world compete and collect points towards the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10. 

Miho Takagi (JPN) thrived on the support of her home crowd to collect two gold medals on the second day of the season-opening Speed Skating World Cup at the Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi Oval. The Obihiro native left the rest of the field almost two seconds behind in the 1500m, and went on to dominate the Team Pursuit together with Momoka Horikawa and Ayano Sato. Femke Kok (NED) started the competition on Saturday with gold in the second 500m to go on top of the 500m ranking together with Kimi Goetz (USA), who came third after Friday’s win.

Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) came from second place to capture their second ISU Grand Prix gold medal of the season as the Ice Dance event concluded at the Cup of China Saturday in Chongqing (CHN) with the Free Dance. Gilles/Poirier and silver medalists Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha (CAN) qualified for the ISU Grand Prix Final. The Cup of China is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series where the best Figure Skaters of the World compete and collect points towards the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10.

Newcomer Hana Yoshida (JPN) stormed to her first ISU Grand Prix gold as the Cup of China continued in Chongqing (CHN) Friday with the Women’s Free Skating. The Cup of China is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series with the World’s best Figure Skaters competing and vying for a spot in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10.

Japan’s skaters came out on top on home ice in the men’s field at the season-opening ISU World Cup in Obihiro on Friday. Tatsuya Shinhama, Wataru Morishige and Yuma Murakami (JPN) swept the podium in the 500m and Masaya Yamada (JPN) added gold in the 1000m at the Meiji Hokkaido Tokachi Oval. Bart Hoolwerf (NED) pipped world champion Bart Swings (BEL) to the line in the Mass Start to conclude Friday’s action. 

Top favorites Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps won the Pairs Short Program as the first competition day at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China concluded Friday in Chongqing (CHN). The Cup of China is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series that features the best Figure Skaters of the World. They compete and collect points hoping to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10. 

Kimi Goetz (USA) had a superb start to the international season, winning gold and bronze medals at the opening day of the ISU World Cup in Obihiro (JPN) on Friday. The American seized her career first 500m World Cup gold and added a bronze in her signature 1000m just a little over an hour later. Jutta Leerdam (NED) and Miho Takagi (JPN) took gold and silver in the double sprint distance, and Ivanie Blondin (CAN) concluded Friday’s women’s competition with gold in the Mass Start.  

World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN) shone and skated to a strong lead as the Cup of China continued Friday in Chongqing (CHN) with the Men’s Short Program. The Cup of China is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The top Figure Skaters of the World compete and collect points towards the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10. 

Despite a setback, Loena Hendrickx leads the Women’s Short Program, as the Figure Skating continued in Chongqing (CHN) Friday with the Cup of China. The competition is the fourth of six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series with the World’s best Figure Skaters competing and vying for a spot in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10.