FIGURE SKATING
Action in Angers: European Champions Siao Him Fa (FRA), Guignard/Fabbri (ITA) headline ISU Grand Prix de France
31 Oct 2024
Get ready for the action in Angers (FRA) when ISU European Champions Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) and Charlène Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) as well as World and European medalists enter the third event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series 2024/25 at the Grand Prix de France.
The Top Contenders
Two-time and reigning ISU European Champion Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) wants to take his third consecutive victory at his home competition and showed he is ready when he won the ISU Challenger event Nice Trophy earlier this month. However, his challengers are waiting for their chance. Among them are the 2023 ISU European bronze medalist Lukas Britschgi (SUI) who was second in Nice, the 2024 European silver medalist Aleksandr Selevko (EST), and ISU Grand Prix Cup of China 2023 bronze medalist Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ). Others to watch include Camden Pulkinen, 2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalist Kazuki Tomono (JPN) and two-time ISU World bronze medalist Boyang Jin (CHN).
European Champion Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) on his way to victory at the 2024 ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania © ISU
“I am happy to be here,” Siao Him Fa said. “I am coming off an injury but I am back in shape, not at 100% but I want to enjoy and give my best.” The Frenchman has prepared two different Short Programs for this season and will debut his “Gangsta’s Paradise” routine in Angers. “We prepared this at the end of the past season. It is our project to choose which Short Program to use and so for here I have changed it,” he said.
The 2024 ISU World bronze medalist Chaeyeon Kim (KOR) is the top-seed in the Women’s event and enjoyed a strong start to the season, winning the Shanghai Trophy. Competition should come from 2023 ISU European Champion Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO) who won the ISU Challenger Denis Ten Memorial a few weeks ago, as well as from 2022 ISU Grand Prix Final Champion Mai Mihara (JPN) and 2024 Skate America Champion Wakaba Higuchi (JPN), who wants to secure her spot in the Final. Nina Pinzarrone (BEL) was fourth at Skate America and has a shot at making the Final as well. With ISU Grand Prix medalists Amber Glenn (USA) and Rion Sumiyoshi (JPN), more contenders eye the podium. Sarah Everhardt (USA) debuts at the senior Grand Prix having performed well at two ISU Challenger events earlier this season, taking a gold and a silver medal.
The 2024 ISU European Champion Loena Hendrickx (BEL) has withdrawn.
Chaeyeon Kim (KOR): bronze medalist at the 2024 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal, Canada © ISU
In the Pairs, ISU World bronze medalists Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin (GER) meet 2023 ISU European Champions Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA). These two top teams need to watch out for Ekaterina Geynish/Dmitrii Chigirev (UZB), who surprised everyone by taking silver at the ISU Grand Prix Skate Canada last week. Geynish/Chigirev now have a good shot at making the Final. The defending Grand Prix de France Champions Lia Pereira/Trennt Michaud (CAN) are back and hope to repeat their success. Alisa Efimova/Misha Mitrofanov (USA) come with a bronze medal from their first event, Skate America. Two-time European medalists Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini (ITA) are also in the mix.
Defending Grand Prix de France Champions Lia Pereira/Trennt Michaud (CAN) in Angers, France last year © ISU
Two-time and reigning ISU European Champions Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) lead the Ice Dance event. Medals are up for grabs for a pack of strong contenders. Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA) took bronze at last week’s Skate Canada and look for more success on home ice, while 2024 ISU European bronze medalists Allison Reed/Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU) come on the back of victory at the recent Nice Trophy. Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain Le Gac (CAN) hope to improve on their seventh-place finish at Skate America. ISU World Junior Champions Leah Neset/Artem Markelov (USA) also compete.
World Junior Champions: Leah Neset/Artem Markelov (USA) © ISU
A total of 60 Skaters/Couples representing 16 countries will compete at the Angers Ice Parc.
For full entries, schedules & results, see the ISU Grand Prix series page, ISU Grand Prix de France event page and the official Grand Prix de France website.
Check out the ISU Grand Prix Standings to find out who is on their way to qualify for the Final:
Men Women Pair Skating Ice Dance
What & When
The schedule of the Grand Prix de France is as follows:
Friday, Nov 1: Pairs & Women’s Short Programs, Rhythm Dance, Men’s Short Program,
Saturday, Nov 2: Pairs, Women’s & Men’s Free Skating, Free Dance
Sunday, Nov 3: Exhibition Gala
Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:
The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:
- 18 - 20 Oct 2024 Skate America in Allen, TX (USA)
- 25 - 27 Oct 2024 Skate Canada International in Halifax (CAN)
- 01 - 03 Nov 2024 Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
- 08 - 10 Nov 2024 NHK Trophy in Tokyo (JPN)
- 15- 17 Nov 2024 Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)
- 22 - 24 Nov 2024 Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final:
- 05 - 08 Dec 2024 Grenoble (FRA)
About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.
Find out Where to Watch the action.
