FIGURE SKATING
Next Generation in Grenoble: Young Skaters gearing up for ISU Junior Grand Prix Final
02 Dec 2024
The next generation takes the ice! The top six Skaters/Couples from ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series 2024/25 in each discipline come together in Grenoble (FRA) for the first big highlight of their season, the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final. Young Skaters from eleven countries get ready to shine on the ice in Grenoble.
Junior Queen Mao Shimada (JPN) to go for the hat-trick
Two-time and reigning ISU World Junior Champion Mao Shimada (JPN) is back and goes for the hat-trick, aiming at her third consecutive title at the Junior Final. As the only Junior Woman to win both her events - in Riga (LAT) and Gdansk (POL) - the 16-year-old tops the Junior Grand Prix standings. She will compete against teammate Ami Nakai (JPN) who has a gold from Wuxi (CHN) and a silver from Ankara (TUR). Nakai returns to the Junior Final for third time as well. Newcomer Kaoruko Wada (JPN) qualified for the Final in her first year on the circuit with a gold from Ostrava (CZE) and silver from Gdansk. Yuseong Kim (KOR) comes back to the Final with a gold from Turkey and the silver from China. Yihan Wang (CHN) and Stefania Gladki (FRA) will compete in their first Final.
The substitutes are: Jia Shin (KOR), Mei Okada (JPN) and Nayeon Ko (KOR).
Mao Shimada (JPN) competes at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Riga (LAT) © ISU
Battle of the Newcomers for the Junior Men
The Junior Men are full of surprises and so all but one Skater made the Final for the first time. Defending Junior Grand Prix Final Champion Rio Nakata (JPN) returns with the silver from Bangkok (THA) and the gold from Wuxi. However, the top qualifier is Jacob Sanchez (USA) who celebrated victory in Ankara (TUR) and Ljubljana (SLO). Sena Takahashi (JPN) booked his ticket to Grenoble with a gold and a silver medal. Yanhao Li (NZL) is the first Skater from New Zealand to qualify for the Final and thus made a little bit of history. He won in Thailand and came third in China. Reigning ISU World Junior Champion Minkyu Seo (KOR) got into the Final for the first time with a gold and a bronze. Lukas Vaclavik (SVK) advanced to his first Final with a first and a fourth place.
The substitutes are: Adam Hagara (SVK), Tonghe Tian (CHN) and Shunsuke Nakamura (JPN).
Jacob Sanchez (USA) competes at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Ankara (TUR) © ISU
Jiaxuan Zhang/Yihang Huang (CHN) lead the Pairs
The Pairs competition features four newcomers and two experienced teams. Jiaxuan Zhang/Yihang Huang (CHN) are the top qualifiers with the maximum of 30 points from their two victories in Riga and Gdansk. They compete in their first international season together. The 2023 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists Jazmine Desrochers/Kieran Thrasher (CAN) qualified with their gold from Turkey and their silver from Riga. The 2024 ISU World Junior silver medalists Olivia Flores/Luke Wang (USA) return to the Final after taking a silver and a bronze on the circuit. Romane Telemaque/Lucas Coulon (FRA), Julia Quattrocchi/Simon Demarais (CAN) and Shae Shimizu/Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda (JPN) will compete in the Final for the first time.
The substitutes are Louise Erhard/Matthis Pellegris (FRA), Elisabeth Hansen/William Church (USA) and Xuanqi Zhang/Wenqiang Feng (CHN).
Jiaxuan Zhang/Yihang Huang (CHN) compete at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Riga (LAT) © ISU
Experienced and new faces in the Ice Dance
Noemi Maria Tali/Noah Lafornara (ITA) emerged as the new leaders in the Junior Ice Dance and come to their first Final as the top qualifiers. The Italians won their events in Riga and in Bangkok and are the only couple with two victories. The 2023 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists Darya Grimm/Mikhail Savitskiy (GER) and Celina Fradji/Jean-Hans Fourneaux (FRA) are the most experienced teams as they compete in their third consecutive ISU Junior Final. The French picked up a gold and a silver while the Germans collected a gold and a bronze en route to the Final. Iryna Pidgaina/Artem Koval (UKR) advance to their first Final with a gold from Turkey and a silver from Slovenia. Katarina Wolfkostin/Dimitry Tsarevski (USA) returned to the Junior level after a season in seniors and got into the Final for the first time. Elliana and Ethan Peal (USA) are first-timers as well.
The substitutes are Caroline Mullen/Brendan Mullen (USA), Hana Maria Aboian/Daniil Veselukhin and Ambre Perrier Gianesini/Samuel Blanc Klaperman (FRA).
Noemi Maria Tali/Noah Lafornara (ITA) compete at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Riga (LAT) © ISU
What and when
The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is as follows:
Thursday, December 5: Junior Pairs, Junior Women’s Short Programs, Junior Ice Dance Rhythm Dance, Pairs & Women’s Short Programs
Friday, December 6: Junior Men’s Short Program, Junior Women’s Free Skating, Rhythm Dance, Pairs Free Skating, Men’s Short Program
Saturday, December 7: Women’s & Junior Men’s Free Skating, Junior Free Dance, Junior Pairs Free Skating, Free Dance, Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, December 10: Exhibition Gala
Prize Money
The global prize money made available by the ISU for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is
US$ 105.000,00.
Men and Women Pair Skating & Ice Dance (per Couple)
1st place US$ 6.000,00 1st place US$ 9.000,00
2nd place US$ 5.000,00 2nd place US$ 7.500,00
3rd place US$ 4.000,00 3rd place US$ 6.000,00
4th place US$ 3.000,00 4th place US$ 4.500,00
5th place US$ 2.000,00 5th place US$ 3.000,00
6th place US$ 1.000,00 6th place US$ 1.500,00
A Skater/Couple will receive an extra bonus of US$ 2.500,00 for participating in the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final.
How did Skaters qualify for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final?
Skaters competed in a maximum of two events on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series and collected points. The top six Single Skaters, Pairs and Ice Dance Couples advanced to the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Grenoble (FRA) December 5-8, 2024, where they will be competing for the final JGP title.
Check out the final ISU Junior Grand Prix Standings:
Men Women Pair Skating Ice Dance
The ISU Junior Grand Prix series consisted of seven events in Riga (LAT), Ostrava (CZE), Bangkok (THA), Ankara (TUR), Gdansk (POL), Ljubljana (SLO) and Wuxi (CHN).
Full entry lists, results, the General Announcement and further information are available on the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series page.
More information about each ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating event:
- 28 - 31 Aug 2024 Riga/LAT
- 04 - 07 Sep 2024 Ostrava/CZE
- 11 - 14 Sep 2024 Bangkok/THA
- 18 - 21 Sep 2024 Ankara/TUR
- 25- 28 Sep 2024 Gdansk/POL
- 02 - 05 Oct 2024 Ljubljana/SLO
- 09 - 12 Oct 2024 Wuxi/CHN
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final:
05 - 08 Dec 2024 Grenoble/FRA
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About ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Junior Grand Prix Figure Skating Series started in 1997. It includes seven events and the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The Series features some of the up and coming Skaters of the world and provides young skaters aged 13 to 19 (21 for Ice Dance competitors and female Pair Skaters/23 for male Pair Skating partners) with the opportunity to compete at a high international level. A points system based on the ranking has been established to determine the qualifiers for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Points are obtained according to the results in each of the seven events and only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final. The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating is financed by the ISU Development Program.
Since 2011 all events of the Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating are live streamed on the official ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating YouTube Channel.
