Two-time and reigning ISU World Pairs Champions Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) skated off with gold in what was a dramatic Pairs competition at Saatva Skate America on Saturday in Lake Placid (USA). The standings shuffled quite a bit and until the last couple it was not clear who would win.

RIku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) claim fifth ISU Grand Prix gold

Miura & Kihara of Japan came from second place to claim their fifth ISU Grand Prix gold with 20 points to spare. Overnight leaders Anastasiia Metelkina & Luka Berulava of Georgia slipped to second place to earn the silver medal, while Canada’s Kelly Ann Laurin & Loucas Ethier rose from sixth to take the bronze. 

Performing to the powerful "Gladiator" soundtrack, Miura & Kihara produced a triple twist, side by side triple Salchow, triple throws and difficult lifts. The 2025 ISU Four Continents Champions scored 141.57 points and accumulated 215.99 points overall to pull up from second to first place and earn their fifth ISU Grand Prix event gold medal. 

“We made a major mistake yesterday in the short and that did make it hard for me just mentally for the free program,” Miura said. “We did end up making a small mistake but I'm still very proud of ourselves for achieving scores in the 140s. I think that is going to make way for more confidence in future competitions.”

After their gold at Skate America, Miura & Kihara (JPN) are excited to go to the ISU Grand Final in Japan © ISU

Miura & Kihara qualified for the ISU Grand Prix Final with two victories on the circuit.

“It is the first Grand Prix Final to be held in Japan that we can participate in,” Kihara pointed out. “It was supposed to be in Osaka (in 2021), but because of COVID that ended up being cancelled. It's going to be held in Nagoya, which is my home town and I'm really happy about that. Back in 2017-2018, the Grand Prix Final was also in Nagoya and at the time it was something we never thought it would have anything to do with us, and the fact that we'll be able to enter there is very important to us.”

Metelkina & Berulava opened their performance to “Keeping Me Alive” with a big triple twist but then run into trouble when Metelkina fell on the triple Salchow and their Axel Lasso lift didn’t go up. The Cup of China Champions collected points with their excellent throw triple flip and loop and two more lifts. However, the mistakes were costly and the Georgians were ranked fourth in the Free Skating at 116.90 points. Overall, they held on to second place at 195.73 points. 

“Unfortunately, our performance today did not work out, but we will work hard, we want to improve, we also will work on the mental side,” Berulava commented. “As for the lift, we are not sure yet what happened there, but it is the job of the boy to lift the girl and I didn’t do that today. I apologize for that.”

Metelkina & Berulava (GEO) dropped from first place at Skate America but still made the ISU Grand Final © ISU

With their gold from the Cup of China and silver from Skate America, Metelkina & Berulava advance to the ISU Grand Prix Final. 

“We are incredibly happy that we get to go to the Grand Prix Final and to Japan,” Berulava said. “Japan is one of our favorite countries.”

Laurin & Ethier turned in a strong performance to “Say Something” that featured a triple Salchow, triple throws and difficult lifts to post a new personal best of 121.58 points. The Canadians totaled 182.87 points, another personal-best score to jump from sixth place on to the podium. It was the second ISU Grand Prix medal for the couple that had won a bronze in 2022 at Skate America as well. 

Laurin & Ethier (CAN) took confidence from their podium place in Skate America at Lake Placid © ISU

“For us, it's kind of a full circle moment,” Ethier shared. “We medaled at our first Grand Prix here in Skate America three years ago, and now to be back on the podium feels really good. It's a good tap on the back and good news for confidence.”

Two-time ISU Four Continents silver medalists Emily Chan & Spencer Akira Howe (USA) moved up from fifth to fourth place at 180.02 points, while Annika Hocke & Robert Kunkel (GER) dropped from third to fifth place (176.56 points).

The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix Saatva Skate America is as follows:

Friday, November 14: Pairs & Men’s Short Programs
Saturday, November 15: Rhythm Dance, Pairs Free Skating, Women’s Short Program, Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, November 16: Free Dance, Women’s Free Skating

ISU Grand Prix Standings

Check out who is on their way to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final:

Men                 Women        Pairs       Ice Dance

For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.

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The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

• 17 - 19 Oct 2025                       Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
• 24 - 26 Oct 2025                       Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)
• 31 Oct-2 Nov 2025                   Skate Canada International in Saskatoon (CAN)
• 07 - 9 Nov 2025                        NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN)
• 14- 16 Nov 2025                       Skate America in Lake Placid (USA)  
• 21 - 23 Nov 2025                      Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN) 
  
  The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 
  04 - 07 Dec 2025                        Nagoya (JPN)