FIGURE SKATING
Mone Chiba soars to gold and into ISU Grand Prix Final at Finlandia Trophy
22 Nov 2025
ISU World bronze medalist Mone Chiba of Japan soared to gold in an exciting Women’s event, as the ISU Grand Prix Finlandia Trophy concluded Saturday in Helsinki (FIN). The enthusiastic crowd at the Helsinki enjoyed a range of excellent performances.
Second Grand Prix gold for Mone Chiba (JPN)
Japan’s Mone Chiba added her second ISU Grand Prix gold medal to her resume with a spectacular performance, overtaking overnight leader Amber Glenn (USA). Rino Matsuike of Japan rose from sixth place to take the bronze medal.
Chiba turned in a beautiful performance to “Romeo and Juliet” that moved the crowd at the Helsinki Ice Hall.
Mone Chiba of Japan wins the Women's Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki, Finland © ISU
The 2025 Skate Canada Champion completed five flawless triple jumps, as well as exquisite spins and steps to score 144.33 points, just below her personal best from Skate Canada.
The 2024 ISU Four Continents Champion racked up 217.22 points overall to move up from second place.
“Reflecting on today's performance, there were not perfect jumps, two got under-rotation marks.
“However, the rest of the jumps I was able to complete, and the quality was good,” Chiba noted. “I was able to deliver and convey the emotions through the step sequence and choreo sequence. I'm happy about that.”
With two victories on the circuit, Chiba is the top qualifier for the ISU Grand Prix Final.
“In this competition (Finlandia Trophy), there were so many very qualified athletes. I was really thinking I wanted to be the best second place athlete,” Chiba shared.
“When I think about winning, or put pressure on myself and really care about the placement, I tend not to do well. I just wanted to focus on what I prepared for and that's what I did.
“Going into the Grand Prix Final and into Nationals, I want to restart the process and work on the performance again.”
Glenn opened her courageous performance to “I Will Find You” and “The Return” with a solid triple Axel, her trademark jump, and followed up with four clean triples, excellent spins and footwork. However, she doubled a Lutz and lost precious points on that.
Amber Glenn of the United States is second in the Women's Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki, Finland © ISU
With 137.69 points, the reigning ISU Grand Prix Final Champion ranked second overall and slipped to second at 213.41 points.
“It definitely wasn't my best, but I stayed on my feet and I fought through it,” Glenn acknowledged. “I'm really happy with how I did mentally.
“Physically, I felt like I was only about 80% today. I didn't really feel the normal adrenaline and pep in my step. Hopefully, after this, I can get a bit of rest and clean up some of those smaller mistakes.”
Glenn has a plan for the Final. “I need to rely on the training and not be fearful of disaster. It's something that goes through my head, and I've talked to my sports psychologist about it.
“Sometimes when you're out there in competition you're like ‘what if, what if, what if’… I'm out there getting in my beginning pose and I'm falling over. I want to try to keep peaceful and just let myself do what I know I can do.
“With every competition, over the last year and a half, I've shown myself that I can do this, especially in my free skates and I just need to trust that.”
Glenn returns to the ISU Grand Prix Final with a gold from the Cup of China and the silver from Finlandia Trophy.
Matsuike returned to the Finlandia Trophy podium after taking silver a year ago.
Rino Matsuike of Japan in the Women's Free Skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki, Finland © ISU
Standing in sixth place, following the Short Program, the Japanese skater turned in a lovely interpretation of “The Nutcracker” that featured four clean triple jumps but two more were slightly under-rotated.
The 21-year-old from Nagoya set a new season’s best, with 131.95 points and accumulated 193.21 points overall, to repeat as a medalist at Finlandia Trophy.
“I was on the podium last year, and I had a strong desire to be on the podium again. But I was looking at other athletes this year and thought maybe it might not happen,” Matsuike said. “But I'm so happy I'm able to be on the podium now, and I'm also relieved.”
Matsuike did not make it to the Final with her bronze from Finland and a sixth-place finish in China.
Bradie Tennell (USA) remained in fourth place with a solid performance to “The Mission” (190.38 points) while Madeline Schizas (CAN) dropped from third to fifth at 188.60 points. Iida Karhunen (FIN) made her home crowd proud with a strong performance to move up from ninth to sixth place at 180.17 points.
2024 ISU European Champion Loena Hendrickx (BEL) has withdrawn, following the Short Program, due to medical reasons.
The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix Finlandia Trophy is as follows:
Saturday, November 22: Pairs, Men’s, Women’s Free Skating, Free Dance
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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)
