FIGURE SKATING
Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) in rhythm for lead at ISU Grand Prix Cup of China
22 Nov 2024
Two-time ISU World medalists Charlène Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) found the right rhythm for the lead as the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China, the sixth and last event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series 2024/25, opened Friday with the Rhythm Dance. The Ice Dancers know how to entertain and put on a fantastic show in the Huaxi Cultural And Sports Center.
Guignard/Fabbri capture the lead
Two-time ISU European Champions Charlène Guignard/Marco Fabbri of Italy danced to the lead in what was a fun Ice Dance event followed by Canadians Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha and Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA).
Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ITA) compete in the Ice Dance Rhythm Dance at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China in Chongqing © ISU
Guignard/Fabbri really sparkled in their upbeat dance to “Land of 1000 Dances”, “For Once in My Life” and “You Make Me Feel Mighty Real” and gave the audience and the judges what they wanted to see: intricate footwork at high speed, a whirling rotational lift and perfect unison. The 2024 ISU World bronze medalists collected a level four for the twizzles and lift while the pattern dance step sequence were rated a level three. The Italian Champions scored 84.84 points for a solid lead.
“First of all, compared to the performances we had in France, also in the Rhythm Dance, today was much easier and we performed much better,” Fabbri said. “We are happy about it because the last two weeks have not been easy mentally, it was not easy to come back from that performance of the Free Dance in France. So overall it was a really nice feeling today on the ice.
“The confidence came day after day. In the first practice we had two days ago, I was not really confident. All the bad memories from France came back to me again, so I was not really calm, but then yesterday's practice was a little bit better, this morning we felt a little bit better, and today I managed to avoid all those bad memories, all those bad feelings and I could focus just on my performance. Everything made me feel at ease today, and so it came naturally.”
Lajoie/Lagha power through twizzles
Lajoie/Lagha took “Austin Powers” to the ice – easy to recognize from the costume – and completed fast twizzles and a rotational lift to post a season-best 81.53 points. The Skate Canada silver medalists are like Guignard/Fabbri – now in prime position to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final in the Free Dance on Saturday.
Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha (CAN) compete in the Ice Dance Rhythm Dance at the Huaxi Cultural And Sports Center in Chongqing © ISU
“We're happy, but this performance was very like a mental fight, so it wasn't easy, but I'm very happy that we were able to stay on our feet and stay solid and just get through it,” Lagha said.
“It was difficult because before the last week of training I sharpened my blade at a new place and I was not able to do a twizzle since and so at this competition I repeated a lot of twizzles. I'm the kind of guy who needs confidence but then I gave the disease to Marjorie because she was thinking a lot about the twizzles but, hats off to her, she still stayed solid.”
Carreira/Ponomarenko keep rolling on
It was rock 'n' roll for Carreira/Ponomarenko with “I Just Want to Make Love to You” and “Long Tall Sally”. They zipped over the ice, earning a level four the twizzles while the lift and the midline steps merited a level three. The NHK Trophy silver medalists netted 79.22 points, just below their personal best.
“We were very happy with today's performance. We felt a bit better with it than in Japan. We felt more relaxed and really like the energy in the arena,” Carreira said.
Ponomarenko added: “We were in fourth place in seven Grand Prix in a row, so finally breaking that top three in Japan, that was incredibly special. And we're going to carry that momentum on to this Grand Prix and further in the season.”
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) compete in the Ice Dance Rhythm Dance at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China in Chongqing © ISU
The Finlandia Trophy bronze medalists Juulia Turkkila/Matthias Versluis (FIN) came fourth at 77.80 points with a rock 'n' roll routine followed by Olivia Smart/Tim Dieck (ESP), who danced to Janis Joplin (75.96 points). The 2022 ISU Four Continents Champions Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA) rounded up the top six at 75.63 points.
For full entries, schedules & results, see the ISU Grand Prix Event Page & ISU Grand Prix Cup of China Event Page .
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 Cup of China is as follows
Friday, Nov 22: Rhythm Dance, Women’s, Men’s & Pairs Short Programs
Saturday, Nov 23: Free Dance, Women’s, Men’s & Pairs Free Skating
Sunday, Nov 24: 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.
