Rio Nakata (JPN) on fire in Junior Men’s Short Program at ISU Grand Prix Final

FIGURE SKATING

Rio Nakata (JPN) on fire in Junior Men’s Short Program at ISU Grand Prix Final

06 Dec 2024

It was a nail-biting affair but defending Junior Grand Prix Final Champion Rio Nakata of Japan is on track and took the lead in the Junior Men’s Short Program with a passionate performance. Jacob Sanchez (USA) is a close second, while Lukas Vaclavik (SVK) currently sits in third.

Nakata was on fire in his Flamenco program that was highlighted by a triple Axel, triple flip, triple toe-triple toe combination as well as a level four change sit spin. The reigning ISU Junior World silver medalist picked up 79.39 points to edge Sanchez for first place.

“My skate was OK,” Nakata said. “I’m thinking about doing a quad jump (in the Free Skating) and I will pay attention to each element. Since today there was a positive reaction from audience, I will take an advantage on that in the long program and try to do my best.”

Rio Nakata (JPN) had to be at his best to secure a slender advantage in the Junior Men category at the ISU Grand Prix Final © ISU

The defending Junior Grand Prix Final Champion has set his eyes clearly on the top spot of the podium again, saying: “I’m very much trying to get a gold for this competition. In Japan there are no skaters who got two golds from the Junior Grand Prix Final, so I want to try to get two golds. I did not expect to be the first after the Short Program.”

Top qualifier Sanchez turned in a strong performance to “Music” by John Miles, showing off his powerful skating. He produced a triple Lutz-triple toe and triple flip, but did a three-turn out of the triple Axel. The JGP Ljubljana and Ankara Champion earned 79.24 points and is virtually tied with Nakata.

“I had it just a little three-turn out of the Axel but I’m really happy with how I did,” Sanchez said. “My goal for the Junior Grand Prix Final is just to embrace the experience. I just want to display my skating tomorrow as best as I can.”

Jacob Sanchez (USA) is making the most of the experience at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Grenoble (FRA) © ISU

The American Skater initially had only one Junior Grand Prix assignment, but then got a second one after winning in Ankara. “I feel great to be here. It’s definitely a very big honor. At the beginning of the season, I had no expectation to be here because on my first competition of the season, it wasn't international, but it was kind of a qualifying competition and it didn't look too promising to get two JGP assignments,” he said.

“So I was really happy I got the first one and I really took the experience and just really embraced it and it worked well and I was able to secure myself a second one and now I secured my spot here.”

Skating to “Symphony No. 7” by Beethoven and “Lacrimosa” by Apashe, Vaclavik landed a triple Axel, triple flip, triple Lutz-triple toe combo to score 72.72 points, just short of his personal best.

“It’s my first big ISU competition so I came here mainly to enjoy it,” the Slovak Skater noted. “I was nervous but I tried to get the positive energy from the program. My mindset for the long program is to skate the best I can, just the same as in Junior Grand Prix or better. Being in the top three now is not really on my mind, seeing that I came here kind of a dark horse to enjoy it mainly and I’ll end up where I end up.”

Lukas Vaclavik (SVK) admits he is a dark horse for a podium place at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Grenoble (FRA) © ISU

Yanhao Li (NZL) remains very close to the podium in fourth place at 72.17 points. ISU World Junior Champion Minkyu Seo (KOR) missed his triple flip to place fifth (69.68 points). Sena Takahashi (JPN) follows in sixth on 61.83 points.

For full entries, results and further information visit the ISU Grand Prix Final event site.

How did Skaters qualify for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final?

Check out the final ISU Junior Grand Prix Standings:

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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).

More information about each ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating event: