ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan claimed her second consecutive Skate Canada crown and led the Japanese Women to a podium sweep in what was an unpredictable event with many surprises. Rino Matsuike stunned everyone rising from 10th place to take the silver medal, while Hana Yoshida earned the bronze, coming from fourth place. 

Overnight leader Sakamoto started well in her upbeat “All That Jazz” routine with a huge double Axel and triple Lutz. She seemed a bit shaken after her fall on the back end of her double Axel-Euler-double Salchow sequence but recovered to land un under-rotated triple flip-triple toe. Two more clean triples followed, but the ISU World Champion missed her solo triple flip. She ranked second in the Free Skating with 126.24 points but, thanks to her strong lead in the Short Program, she still won with nine points to spare at 201.21 points.

Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) - ISU Grand Prix Skate Canada 2024 Halifax - ©International Skating Union (ISU)

“I am happy that I was able to win but I am very disappointed with result and with the content of my performance,” Sakamoto said. “I’ll take this disappointment to heart and hope to do better at my next event. My next event is NHK Trophy, so there is not much time. Once I get back home I have one week to train. So I have to hurry and intensify my training. I want to take the lessons I’ve learned from here and focus on the Free Skating.”

After her disappointing Short Program, where she finished a distant 10th, Matsuike had nothing to lose. The Japanese who just celebrated her 20^th birthday on October 10, turned in a beautiful performance to “Lux Aeterna” by Christopher Tin that included seven triple jumps as well as level-four spins and footwork. Matsuike won the Free Skating segment with 139.85 points and jumped to the silver medal with a total of 192.16 points. It was Matsuike’s third ISU Grand Prix medal after two bronzes at Skate Canada 2023 and the NHK Trophy 2020.

Rino Matsuike (JPN) - ISU Grand Prix Skate Canada 2024 Halifax - ©International Skating Union (ISU)

“I’m really full of happiness to make the podium,” Matsuike said. “I made some serious mistakes in the Short Program and my placement was such that I wasn’t expecting to make the podium. I had taken my costume off and I was at the upper level watching the other group from the stands, that’s how unexpected it was for me to be on the podium.”

Yoshida (JPN) gave an emotional performance to “S.O.S. d’un terrien en detresse”. She went for the triple Axel but stepped out of it. The ISU Grand Prix Final bronze medalist nailed four more triples to score 126.05 points and moved up one spot with 191.37 points overall. 

“I am happy that I get on the podium with two Japanese girls but I am quite disappointed about my skating today,” Yoshida said. “When I finished the Free Skating I wasn’t thinking that I made the podium. My disappointment was more about my performance not about not making the podium. When I learned I made the podium, it was more relief than happiness. I have to find a way to handle my nerves.”

Hana Yoshida (JPN) - ISU Grand Prix Skate Canada 2024 Halifax - ©International Skating Union (ISU)

The competition was so close that the Skaters ranked second through fifth were separated by little more than two points. Kimmy Repond (SWI) slipped from third to fourth place at 191.07 points. Canadian Champion Madeline Schizas placed fifth at 190.04 points. Alysa Liu (USA) who came back out of retirement and ranked second in the Short Program, dropped to sixth after under-rotating some jumps. 

Sakamoto earned 15 points for the ISU Grand Prix standings and will compete next at her home event NHK Trophy in Tokyo (JPN). Matsuike (13 points) and Yoshida (11 points) will meet again at the Grand Prix Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN), where they will try to secure a spot in the Final. 

For full entries, schedules & results, see the ISU Grand Prix Event Page & ISU GP Skate Canada Event Page & Official Skate Canada Event 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 Skate Canada International is as follows

Friday, Oct 25: Pairs & Women’s Short Programs

Saturday, Oct 26: Rhythm Dance, Men’s Short Program, Pairs & Women’s Free Skating

Sunday, Oct 27: Men’s Free Skating & Free Dance

Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:

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

1. 25 - 27 Oct 2024                       Skate Canada International in Halifax (CAN)
2. 01 - 03 Nov 2024                      Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
3. 08 - 10 Nov 2024                      NHK Trophy in Tokyo (JPN)
4. 15- 17 Nov 2024                       Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)  
5. 22 - 24 Nov 2024                      Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 

1. 05 - 08 Dec 2024                        Grenoble (FRA)