Two-time and reigning ISU World Champions Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara of Japan took a tight lead in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Nagoya (JPN). In front of an enthusiastic crowd, the top teams of the world put out captivating performances. 

ISU World Champions Miura & Kihara edge Conti & Macii 

Two-time ISU World Champions Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara had their home crowd behind them in Nagoya and finished ahead of Italy’s Sara Conti & Niccolo Macii by just 0.10 points for the lead. Anastasiia Metelkina & Luka Berulava of Georgia are currently sitting in third.  

Miura & Kihara put out a passionate performance to “Paint It Black”, producing a triple twist, a triple toe and throw triple Lutz. The 2025 ISU Four Continents Champions picked up 77.32 points.

Reigning ISU World Champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) finished in first place in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 © ISU

“We missed that jump (triple toe) in the last competition, so I'm glad I was able to land the triple this time,” Miura said. “The Grand Prix Final is held in Nagoya, where we formed our pair, so I'm glad we were able to perform with smiles on our faces. We're both very confident in the speed of our lifts, so the extra points we received gave us confidence going into the free skate,” she added.

“I was sleepy due to jet lag, but I was glad that my score went up,” Kihara told the press. “I made two small mistakes, but I'm glad I got 77 points. I was happy to be able to perform in front of the audience in my hometown of Nagoya.”

Conti & Macii sparkled in their crisp Flamenco routine that featured a triple twist, triple Salchow and throw triple loop. The 2025 European silver medalists set a new personal best of 77.22 points. 

Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii (ITA)  took second place in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 © ISU

“I’m so happy, this is our best Short Program,” Conti said. “We really enjoyed it and were happy to be on the ice together. It was very emotional. The crowd was amazing. We are ready for tomorrow.”

“I was pretty nervous today as this morning it seems to me that everything was not going to the right direction,” Macii revealed. “But my girlfriend said ‘remember, the Grand Prix Final is a rehearsal for the Olympic Games’.” 

Metelkina & Berulava impressed with their Bolero routine, completing a triple twist, triple Salchow and throw triple flip. The two-time ISU World Junior Champions scored 75.04 points. 

Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (GEO) finished third in the Pairs Short Program at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 © ISU

“It was so enjoyable for us to skate for the audience here in Japan. We felt so much support that we just wanted to do better and better,” Metelkina said.

“I was nervous today, even in practice,” Berulava admitted. “You never know what is going to happen in the competition. It was just a work-like performance today. But Nastia (Metelkina) was great, she did everything as needed.”

Maria Pavlova & Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN) came fourth with another strong performance that scored 72.84 points. Two-time and reigning ISU Grand Prix Final Champions Minerva Hase & Nikita Volodin (GER) placed fifth after Hase singled the side by side jump, a Salchow (71.68 points). Deanna Stellato-Dudek & Maxime Deschamps (CAN) finished sixth (71.07 points). 

ISU Grand Prix Final schedule:

Thursday, December 4: Pairs & Men’s Short Programs, Rhythm Dance
 Friday December 5: Pairs Free Skating, Women’s Short Program
 Saturday, December 6: Men’s & Women’s Free Skating
 Sunday, December 7: Exhibition Gala

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ISU Grand Prix Standings

Check out the road to the ISU Grand Prix Final:

Men                               Women                    Pairs                      Ice Dance

For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.