FIGURE SKATING
Hana Yoshida (JPN) sparkles with gold in Finland, next stop the ISU Grand Prix Final
16 Nov 2024
Hana Yoshida (JPN) skated off with the gold medal and right into the ISU Grand Prix Final as the Women’s event concluded on Saturday with an exciting Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN).
Hana Yoshida (JPN) strikes gold
Hana Yoshida of Japan struck gold and skated right into the ISU Grand Prix Final. Teammate Rino Matsuike (JPN) made it one-two for the Japanese Women by moving up from fourth to take the silver. Italy’s Italian Lara Naki Gutmann earned the bronze, her first ISU Grand Prix medal.
Overnight leader Yoshida put out an elegant, beautifully paced performance to “S.O.S. d’un terrien en détresse” which was highlighted by triple jumps, as well as excellent spins and steps. The 2024 Skate Canada bronze medalist only missed her opening triple Axel, but five triples were clean.
Hana Yoshida (JPN) in the Women’s Free program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki, Finland © ISU
Yoshida scored 131.59 points and ranked second in the Free Skating. With a total of 199.46 points, she edged out Matsuike by just 0.26 points for the gold.
“Of course I am happy that I won, but I really wanted to land my triple Axel,” Yoshida said. “I have much more to improve, and I'm happy that I didn't give up until the last second and saved the gold medal.
"Last year in China I didn't expect to win the Cup of China and I was very surprised,” she continued. “This year I knew there is a chance. I was really nervous and I tried not to think about it, but it was somewhere in my mind.
“It was my first time to see the final result in the Kiss & Cry. I was really happy and I couldn't believe it.”
Matsuike lit up the ice with her ethereal performance to “Lux Aeterna” that included five clean triples and level-four spins. She only doubled a Salchow.
Nevertheless, the 2024 Skate Canada silver medalist won the Free Skating with 134.38 points and accumulated 199.20 points for her second ISU Grand Prix silver medal this season.
Rino Matsuike (JPN) in the Women’s Free program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki, Finland © ISU
“I'm happy to have the silver medal, but it wasn't perfect so there is much to improve and I have to work on it,” Matsuike said. “I made some mistakes in the Short program, and I don't want to repeat them in my next competition. I also have to improve my performance in the long program.”
The Japanese Skater has a good chance to make the Final, but it will depend on the results next week at the last event of the ISU Grand Prix series, the Cup of China.
“I will follow the event somehow, but I really have to concentrate on Nationals so I will practice and my focus is on that,” Matsuike noted.
Skating to “Wayward Sisters” and “Sheltering Sky”, Gutmann delivered a graceful performance, completing six clean triple jumps and difficult spins. The Denis Ten Memorial bronze medalist picked up 131.43 points, a new personal best for a total of 198.49 points.
Lara Gutmann (ITA) in the Women’s Free program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki, Finland © ISU
It is not only the first Grand Prix medal for Gutmann, but also the first for an Italian Woman since Carolina Kostner claimed silver in 2017.
“There are so many emotions. I have been crying and laughing, me, my coach and all the team - we are all very happy,” the three-time Italian Champion shared.
“I've been dreaming about it since I was little, and I've been working for it. I will try to do better and work more and follow this path.”
Gutmann is already looking ahead: “First I’ll have some rest, it has been two tough weeks with NHK Trophy and this Grand Prix. Then I have time to really work on the details that I didn't have in the last two weeks, so it's really good for me.”
Sarah Everhardt (USA) turned in another solid performance to “Firebird” but slipped from third to fourth at 191.17 points. Ahsun Yun (KOR) placed fifth at 187.68 points while Lorine Schild (FRA) finished sixth (182.36 points).
Yoshida qualifies for her second consecutive Final with a gold and a bronze medal (26 points – the gold medal being the tie-breaker). Matsuike has 26 points from two second places and will have to wait for the results of Cup of China to see if she makes it to the Final for the first time. Gutmann collected 16 points from her two events which will not be enough to advance to the Final.
For full entries, schedules & results, see the ISU Grand Prix Event Page & ISU Grand Prix Finlandia Trophy Event Page & Official Finlandia Trophy 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 Finlandia Trophy is as follows
Friday, Nov 15: Men’s, Women’s & Pairs Short Programs
Saturday, Nov 16: Men’s & Women’s Free Skating, Rhythm Dance
Sunday, Nov 17: Pairs Free Skating, Free Dance
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.
