World Champions Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara of Japan took the Pairs Short Program by storm, blazing to the lead as the Grand Prix de France continued Friday in Angers (FRA). 

Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihars (JPN) win Pairs Short Program

Two-time and reigning ISU World Pairs Champions Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara of Japan skated to the lead in a high-level Pairs Short Program in Angers. The 2024 ISU World Champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps of Canada came second followed by Hungary’s Maria Pavlova/Alexei Sviatchenko. 

Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) lead in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Angers (FRA) © ISU

Miura/Kihara sizzled in their passionate program to “Paint It Black” that featured a high triple twist, a throw triple flip, level-four lift and side by side triple toeloop (slightly under-rotated). The 2025 ISU Four Continents Champions earned 79.44 points, just below their season’s best score. 

“Last year when we got this program, it was close to perfection,” Miura said. “Shae-Lynn (Bourne, choreographer) made this really perfect program for us. From start to finish it is packed with elements and transitions and we thought it couldn’t get any better than that. 

“But last summer we had a camp with her, we had a week to brush up the program, and she made it even better. So we know this program can still grow,” she continued.

“We had a few small mistakes, but we got a score close to our season’s best, so we are happy so far,” Kihara added.

Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps excited the crowd at the Angers Ice Park Arena with their dramatic “Carmina Burana” program, nailing a triple twist, throw triple loop and picking up a level four for all elements. 

Deanna Stellato-Dudek/ Maxime Deschamps (CAN) in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Angers (FRA) © ISU

The drama ramped up even further when Stellato-Dudek back-flipped from her partner’s chest - and the crowd went wild. The Canadians set a season’s best of 74.26 points. 

“I had been trying to convince Max to do it for over a year, but he thought it was too dangerous,” Stellato-Dudek said about her assisted backflip. 

“My original idea was to jump off of his shoulders, but he vetoed that idea, and then I thought I could jump off his back, but he vetoed that too. On our vacation, I asked him to come with me to a gymnasium. I said I'll get us a gymnastics coach, and if I can't do it the first day, I'll give up. And I was, of course, able to do it the first day.”

“We have done this program in July,” Deschamps noted. “So it's not new, but we still have a lot work to do. It's the second time for us showing it, and it was a good step forward. We are really happy with what we have achieved tonight.”

Skating to Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song”, Maria Pavlova/Alexei Sviatchenko turned in another great program. The Hungarian Champions produced a set of triple toes, a triple twist and a throw triple Lutz to post a new personal best with 70.15 points. 

Maria Pavlova/ Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN) in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Angers (FRA) © ISU

“We feel amazing and very happy. It was my little dream to get over 70 points in the Short Program and that dream came true today,” Pavlova said. 

It was the first competition of the season for the duo as Sviatchenko had suffered from a shoulder injury. 

“I felt nervous in our first competition today, my legs were a bit shaky, but my partner was like a rock and that helped me,” Pavlova shared. “We are excited to be back.”

Katie McBeath/Daniil Parkman (USA) ranked fourth on 63.31 points with a solid performance. Teammates Audrey Shin/Balazs Nagy (USA) round up the top five at 61.79 points. 

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