Canadian figure skaters Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps secured the silver medal in the pairs competition at the Grand Prix de France. They accumulated a total score of 197.66, with 123.40 points in the free skate. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps, who are the reigning 2024 world champions, garnered 73.26 points in the short program.
In contrast, Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara clinched the gold medal in the pairs event with a significant 21-point lead, despite errors by Miura during the free skate. They finished with a total score of 219.15. Hungary’s Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko claimed the bronze with a score of 192.76.
On another note, Canadian ice dancers Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac placed sixth in the rhythm dance with a score of 73.75. The free dance segment is scheduled for Sunday.
In the men’s competition, American figure skater Ilia Malinin dominated the short program, showcasing impressive skills that earned him a commanding lead with 105.22 points. He executed challenging elements, including a quadruple flip and a quadruple lutz-triple toeloop combination, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.
Furthermore, a notable development in the women’s event saw newcomer Ami Nakai from Japan achieve a stunning victory, outperforming three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto. Nakai’s remarkable performance, highlighted by a personal best score of 149.08 in the free skate and a total of 227.08, secured her the title at her debut senior Grand Prix.
The Grand Prix de France serves as a crucial event in the competitive figure skating calendar, setting the stage for skaters aiming for success at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.