Figure Skating’s brightest young talents will take center stage at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2025 in Debrecen (HUN) February 25 to March 1 and provide an unique glimpse into the future of the sport. From rising star Mao Shimada (JPN) who aims at a historic third World Junior title to her arch rival Jia Shin (KOR), the strong fields of Junior Men, Junior Pairs and Junior Ice Dance the next generation is ready to impress with spectacular performances and to create moments to be remembered. 

Mao Shimada (JPN) to go for historic third title

Mao Shimada (JPN) performs at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Grenoble (FRA)  © ISU 

Will she do it again? That’s the question for two-time World Junior Champion Mao Shimada (JPN). She can become the first Single Skater to claim three World Junior titles and she comes armed with her triple Axel and quad toeloop. Her seasons best of 224.68 points is the second highest in the Women’s – junior or senior. Shimada’s arch rival and three-time ISU World Junior silver medalist Jia Shin (KOR/seasons best 193.04 points) didn’t have an easy start into the season, missing out to qualify for the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final. Will the elegant Korean Skater be back in top form to challenge Shimada? 

“The result comes later,” Shimada said. “Instead of focusing on the result, I want to focus on what I have to do. I am excited because this is the last competition of the season and I hope to do my best.”

The Japanese Skater is looking forward to the event. “It is my first time in Hungary and I am excited to see how the ice rink here looks like.”

Jia Shin (KOR) performs at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating event in Ljubljana (SLO)  © ISU

More Skaters are hoping for a spot in the sunshine in Debrecen: ISU Junior Grand Prix Final silver and bronze medalists Kaoruko Wada (JPN) and 2023 ISU World Junior bronze medalist Ami Nakai (JPN) as well as ISU Junior Grand Prix Finalist Stefania Gladki (FRA) plus Joline Sophie von Felten (USA), Yujae Kim (KOR), Iida Karhunen (FIN) and Elina Goidina (EST). Anna Pezzetta (ITA) comes from an excellent fifth place at the ISU European Championships.

Tight battle in the Junior Men

The Junior Men’s competition is the most unpredictable event with many up and coming young Skaters eager to step on to the podium – and many have the qualities needed for that. Jacob Sanchez (USA) won the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final (seasons best 229.46) but defending ISU World Junior Champion Minkyu Seo (KOR/SB 224.78) and ISU World Junior silver medalist Rio Nakata (JPN/SB 233.53) are hungry for gold in Debrecen as well. It will come down to who is able to perform his best on the given day.

Jacob Sanchez (USA) performs at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Grenoble (FRA)  © ISU

"My training for Junior Worlds since the US Championships has been good. Just pacing myself for this upcoming week,“ Sanchez said. "My approach going into Junior Worlds after winning the Junior Grand Prix Final is to just enjoy the experience and have fun as this is the last competition of the season.

“I’m looking forward the most to seeing all of my friends from around the world and to share the ice with them,” he added. 

More challengers are waiting in the wings for their chance: 2024 ISU World Junior bronze medalist Adam Hagara (SVK) is back, newcomer Sena Takahashi (JPN) and the elegant Arlet Levandi (EST). Yanhao Li (NZL) has a shot at winning New Zealand’s first ever ISU Championship medal.

  Rio Nakata (JPN) performs at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Grenoble (FRA)  © ISU

Georgian-Chinese duel in the Junior Pairs

The Junior Pairs event shape up as a duel between the defending Champions Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava (GEO) and the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champions Jiaxuan Zhang/Yihang Huang (CHN). Metelkina/Berulava competed at the senior level all season and claimed bronze at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships last month (seasons best 213.05 points) while Zhang/Huang dominated on the Junior circuit and won the ISU Junior Final (SB 176.09)

 Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava (GEO) perform at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Grenoble (FRA)  © ISU

“We have been especially working on the throw triple Salchow as it is a required element in the (junior) Short Program,” Berulava commented. “As this is my last Junior Worlds in my career, we want to show the maximum and skate clean. We don’t feel pressure, we are confident in our abilities. We come for the gold.”

While these two top teams are the hot favorites, there are more strong contenders in the running: 2024 ISU World Junior bronze medalists Naomi Williams/Lachlan Lewer (USA/SB 153.34), Oxana Vouillamoz/Tom Bouvart (SUI/SB 170.09) and Sofiia Holichenko/Artem Darenskiy (UKR/SB 164.95) come with senior-level experience to the competition. The 2024 ISU World Junior silver medalists Olivia Flores/Luke Wang (USA) and 2024 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists Jazmine Desrochers/Kieran Thrasher (CAN) hope to challenge the leaders. 

 Jiaxuan Zhang/Yihang Huang (CHN) perform at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Grenoble (FRA)  © ISU

The heat is on in Ice Dance

The heat is on in the Ice Dance competition with a deep field of incredibly talented young teams. Who will dance on the podium in the end? Noemi Maria Tali/Noah Lafonara (ITA) have established themselves as the new leaders after the 2024 ISU World Junior gold and silver medalists have moved up to the senior level. Tali/Lafonara won their ISU Junior Grand Prix events and the ISU Junior Final and have the highest seasons best of the Junior Dance teams with 169.98 points. 

Noemi Maria Tali/Noah Lafonara (ITA) perform at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Grenoble (FRA)  © ISU

However, the competitors are not resting and want to challenge the Italians: ISU Grand Prix Final silver medalists Katerina Wolfkostin/Dmitry Tsarevskiy (USA) returned to the junior level after competing at the senior level in the past season (seasons best 166.88). The 2024 ISU World Junior and current ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists Darya Grimm/Michail Savitskiy (GER/SB 162.49) have been gaining momentum throughout the season. 

 Darya Grimm/Michail Savitskiy (GER) perform at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Grenoble (FRA)  © ISU

In addition to the “big three”, ISU Junior Grand Prix Finalists Celina Fradji/Jean Hans Fourneaux (FRA), Iryna Pidgaina/Artem Koval (UKR) and Caroline Mullen/Brendan Mullen (USA) want to leave their mark and challenge for a medal. 

What and when 

A total of 181 Skaters/Couples representing 40 ISU Members have been entered for this ISU World Junior Championships:  41 Men, 48 Women, 21 Pairs and 25 Ice Dance couples. Debrecen hosts the event for the second time after 2016. The schedule of the ISU World Junior Championships 2025 is as follows:

• Wednesday, February 26: Junior Men’s Short Program, Junior Rhythm Dance
• Thursday, February 27: Junior Women’ Short Program, Junior Free Dance
• Friday, February 28: Junior Pairs Short Program & Junior Men’s Free Skating 
• Saturday, March 1: Junior Women’s & Junior Pairs Free Skating

For more information, full entry lists and results, visit the ISU event page of the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2025 and the official event website of the Championships. Follow the discussion on social media using #WorldJFigure and #FigureSkating.

Where to watch the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2025:

The ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships will be live streamed on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. Geo-restrictions will apply in markets where TV rights are in place. You will find the full list in the Where to Watch news here. 

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