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Alysa Liu (USA) skated to a surprising lead as the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2025 kicked off with an exciting Women’s Short Program Wednesday in Boston (USA). The best female skaters in the world lit up the ice with great performances, cheered on by the enthusiastic crowd at TD Garden. Emotions ran high as the 33 women were also fighting for quota places for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and needed to make the top 24 here in Boston to keep their chance alive. With the scores so close, a lot can happen in the Free Skating on Friday.

Alysa Liu (USA) takes the lead 

The 2022 ISU World bronze medalist Alysa Liu (USA) continued her comeback this season with a spectacular Short Program to take the lead in Boston. Japan’s Mone Chiba is just behind Liu, followed by 2024 ISU World silver medalist Isabeau Levito (USA).   

Alysa Liu (USA) skated a personal best to take the lead after the Short Program at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships © ISU

After taking a break from skating, 19-year-old Liu decided to return this season, and she showed Wednesday she is back. She turned in a personal best performance to “Promise”, landing a triple flip-triple toe, double Axel and triple Lutz to score 74.58 points.

“This program was so emotional in itself so I feel like I was going to cry anyways, but it made it so much more meaningful for it to be Worlds again, because it was my last competition before I left. It’s really surreal being back here,” Liu said.

“The skate felt very nice, start to end, especially in my footwork. I really saw the audience and I could connect with them, especially with the lyric storyline progressing so much. It was really a nice feeling.”

Chiba entertained the crowd with her delightful performance to “Last Dance” by Donna Summer, even if it wasn’t her last dance.
 

Mone Chiba (JPN) skated a near-perfect Short Program on Wednesday to finish second with a personal best score © ISU

The 2024 ISU Four Continents Champion hit a triple flip, double Axel and difficult spins. She only slightly under-rotated the back end of her triple Lutz-triple toe combination. Chiba set a personal best of 73.44 points.

“I really enjoyed skating the last summer here in Boston because it's Donna Summer's hometown,” Chiba said.

“I am very happy with the fact that I was able to skate as I practise every day. Instead of checking off the list of elements, I was truly able to enjoy this ‘Last Dance’. It was a true smile (that I showed). I was enjoying this opportunity to skate my last Short Program of the season,” she said. 

Levito celebrated a great comeback after missing part of the season due to injury. The 2024 ISU World silver medalist brought Audrey Hepburn to life in her playful program to “Moon River”, which included a triple flip-triple toe and triple Lutz. Levito achieved a season’s best of 73.33 points.

Isabeau Levito (USA) brought Audrey Hepburn to life to finish third in Wednesday's Short Program © ISU

“I’m so happy and relieved right now,” Levito said. “Seriously, after that injury, after Skate America, I really thought my season was over. I’m so grateful for everyone who helped me, and for my federation for believing in me and supporting me to make it here.

“That moment when I finished my program was incredibly emotional. I just felt so much relief and happiness. I’m really glad I got to perform this program one more time this season because I love it so much. I haven’t decided yet, but I definitely wouldn’t mind keeping this program for another season, I just love it so much.”

The 2018 ISU World silver medalist Wakaba Higuchi (JPN) and three-time and reigning ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) are within striking distance of the podium. Higuchi scored a season’s best of 72.10 points with a clean skate. Sakamoto struggled with her combination, turning a triple-triple into a double flip-triple toe, to finish fifth on 71.03 points. 

Reigning World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) is fifth and remains in contention heading into the Free Skating on Thursday © ISU

“It was a fight against pressure and myself,” Sakamoto said. “There were some moments where I was losing, but I was determined to fight till the end. The Short Program has been my sore spot for years. I feel more comfortable with my Free Program. I am a person who can easily forget days, unpleasant things, so I will start fresh again tomorrow.”

Madeline Schizas (CAN) rounds out the top six (69.18 points). 

ISU Grand Prix Final Champion Amber Glenn (USA) fell on her triple Axel, but could still catch up in the Free Skating. She is currently ninth on 67.65 points. The 2024 ISU World bronze medalist Chaeyeon Kim (KOR) made an error on her combination jump to finish 11th (65.67 points).

Remembrance moment 

While celebrating the sport of Figure Skating, the community does not forget those who were lost. At the start of the Championships, the ISU — together with US Figure Skating and the Skating Club of Boston — will remember and honor the victims of the aviation tragedy of January 29 where 28 young athletes, parents and coaches lost their lives. This “Remembrance moment” will take place on Wednesday, March 26th, at 18:15 p.m. (local Boston time). 

Road to Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games

The 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston will serve as the primary qualification event for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The first quota places will be allocated during the World Championships in Boston and the remaining ones at the Olympic Qualifying competition in Beijing (CHN) from September 17-21, 2025 (read more here). 

What and when 

The schedule of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2025 is as follows:

Wednesday, March 26:  Women’s & Pairs Short Programs
Thursday, March 27:  Men’s Short Program & Pairs Free Skating
Friday, March, 28:  Rhythm Dance & Women’s Free Skating
Saturday, March 29:  Free Dance & Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, March 30:  Exhibition Gala & ISU Figure Skating Awards

A total of 190 Skaters representing 42 countries have been entered for the Championships: 39 Men, 33 Women, 23 Pairs and 36 Ice Dance couples. Boston hosts the ISU World Championships for the second time after 2016 and this the 14^th time that the USA are hosting the event.

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

Where to watch the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2025:

The ISU World 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. 

Subscribe to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive alerts when the live streams start and when new videos are posted.