Canada’s Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps clinched the silver medal in the pairs competition at the figure skating Grand Prix de France. The duo secured a total score of 197.66, with a notable 123.40 points in the free skate. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps, who are the reigning 2024 world champions, scored 73.26 in the short program during Friday’s performance.
In contrast, Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara emerged victorious in the pairs event, claiming a significant 21-point lead despite some errors by Miura in the free skate. They accumulated a total score of 219.15. Hungary’s Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko secured the bronze medal with a score of 192.76.
Meanwhile, Canadian ice dancers Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac finished in sixth place in the rhythm dance segment, achieving a score of 73.75. The free dance competition is scheduled for Sunday.
In the men’s category, American figure skater Ilia Malinin showcased a dominant performance in the short program, establishing a commanding lead with a score of 105.22. His impressive routine included executing a quadruple flip and a quadruple lutz-triple toeloop combination, along with a backflip as a captivating conclusion. Nika Egadze of Georgia followed in second place with 95.67 points, while Kao Miura of Japan secured the third spot with 87.25 points.
Additionally, in a surprising turn of events, Ami Nakai from Japan outshone three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto, leading a Japanese sweep on the women’s podium. Nakai’s debut at the senior Grand Prix was a remarkable success, as she achieved a personal best score of 149.08 in the free skate, totaling 227.08. Sakamoto claimed the second position with 224.23 points, while Rion Sumiyoshi secured the bronze medal with 216.06 points.
The Grand Prix de France marks the commencement of the six regular season Grand Prix events, culminating in a final competition in December. This series serves as a pivotal test for elite skaters aiming for success at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February.
