#FigureSkating 

Isabeau Levito (USA) has a narrow lead after the Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix Skate America in Allen, USA © ISU

ISU 2024 World silver medalist Isabeau Levito (USA) took the lead in the Women’s Short Program as the first day of competition wrapped up at Skate America in Allen, TX (USA) Friday. It was a close competition filled with beautiful performances and the emotional comeback of Bradie Tennell (USA).

Isabeau Levito (USA) wins Women’s Short Program

To the delight of the home crowd, 2024 ISU World silver medalist Isabeau Levito (USA) and teammate Bradie Tennell finished first and second in the Short Program. Rinka Watanabe (JPN), the 2024 ISU Four Continents bronze medalist, ranks third heading into the Free Skating on Saturday.

Wearing an elegant black dress, Levito channeled Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. Performing to “Moon River”, the 17-year-old produced a triple flip, double Axel and a level-four flying camel spin, however she under-rotated the back end of her triple Lutz-triple toe combination. Nevertheless, Levito posted a season's best of 68.43 points.

“I feel like the vision for my costuming was definitely Audrey Hepburn from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” Levito told the press. “I'm enjoying it a lot dressing up as Audrey Hepburn and feeling like a movie star. I really like this program, and it's one of the first times I'm competing it for the season and I'm very excited to continue skating to this music.”

It was a quite a comeback for Tennell, who had to withdraw from her ISU Grand Prix events a year ago after she broke her ankle. On Friday, she got the crowd on side with her energetic performance to “Lord of the Dance”, highlighted by a double Axel, triple loop and difficult spin. Like Levito, she under-rotated her triple Lutz-triple toe combination. The two-time U.S. Champion collected 66.99 points.

 

Bradie Tennell (USA) is second after the Women's Short Program at Skate America © ISU

“I felt very good about my performance today being that this is my first Grand Prix in quite a while and coming off my injury,” Tennell said. “I really just wanted to go out there and give a solid performance and enjoy myself and show off all of the literal blood, sweat and tears that I've put into coming back over the past year. I just really felt so much support from the crowd. The energy in the arena was so good and I just really had so much fun.”

Skating to “Moonlight”, Watanabe landed a double Axel, triple Lutz and triple loop-triple toe combination to score 66.54 points. She decided not to go for her triple Axel to play it safe.

 

Rinka Watanabe (JPN) placed third in the Women's Short Program at Skate America on Friday © ISU

“So there's two sides that I'm feeling right now,” she said. “On the one hand, I think that I was able to perform as I had sort of imagined. But on the other hand, I also think that I could have done more. Given that I was quite nervous, I think that I was able to pull off a pretty good performance.”

The Free Skating on Saturday will be interesting as the top five skaters are separated by less than six points. Wakaba Higuchi (JPN), the 2018 ISU World silver medalist, is close to the podium at 66.12 points. The 2024 European bronze medalist, Nina Pinzarrone (BEL), is fifth with 62.85 points, while Minchae Kim (KOR) rounds out the top six with 60.66 points. 

Check out the ISU Grand Prix Standings to find out who is on their way to qualify for the Final (data will be available after the conclusion of the first event):

Men      Women            Pair Skating      Ice Dance

 

What & When

The schedule of Skate America is as follows:

Friday, Oct 18: Pairs & Women’s Short Programs

Saturday, Oct 19: Rhythm Dance, Pairs Free Skating, Men’s Short Program & Women’s Free Skating

Sunday, Oct 20: Men’s Free Skating & Free Dance, Exhibition Gala  

 

Follow the ISU Grand Prix Series

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.