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Junior queen Mao Shimada (JPN) once more reigned supreme on the ice and skated to the lead in the Women’s Short Program at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2025 in Debrecen (HUN) on Thursday. It was a sublime day of Figure Skating filled with many wonderful performances. 

Mao Shimada (JPN) soars to new heights in the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Debrecen, Hungary © ISU

Mao Shimada (JPN) on track for third gold

Two-time World Junior Champion Mao Shimada of Japan remains on track for a record third ISU World Junior title after a spectacular Short Program. Georgia’s Inga Gurgenidze placed second, followed by 2023 ISU World Junior bronze medalist Ami Nakai (JPN). A lot can happen in the Free Skating on Saturday as the Skaters right down to ninth place are only four points away from the podium. The top three, and more Skaters, plan the triple Axel in the Free Skating - and some even will go for a quadruple jump.

 Shimada defied gravity, true to the title of her music “Defying Gravity” from the “Wicked” soundtrack. She floated over the ice, landing a double Axel, triple flip, triple Lutz-triple toe combination and producing amazing spins. The three-time ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champion was rewarded with a personal best of 74.68 points. 

“Today's performance, everything went well. Even though I was the most nervous I've been this season, I was able to enjoy my skate until the very end, without forgetting to smile,” Shimada said.

“This short program is one of my favorites,” she revealed. “It was my favorite, ever since the first time I saw the choreography. Since it was a program based on a story I already knew, I'm truly happy to have been able to end it in a good way.”

Gurgenidze delivered a characteristic Tango routine with flawless jumps and spins for a new personal best of 67.47 points. 

Inga Gurgenidze (GEO) comes second in the Short Program in the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Debrecen, Hungary © ISU

“My performance was really good today,” Gurgenidze commented. “This was the best performance of the season and hopefully it will always go this way. I was totally calm, I wasn’t nervous. I was confident in my abilities.

“Tomorrow we’ll just practice, and I will get my thoughts together for the Free Skating. I will fully prepare. The most important thing for me is to deliver two clean performances here,” she added.

Nakai’s performance to “Les Parapluis de Cherbourg” was highlighted by a triple Lutz-triple toe combination, however, the double Axel was somewhat shaky. Nakai earned 66.84 points. 

Ami Nakai (JPN) in the Short Program in the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Debrecen, Hungary © ISU

“I was the most nervous I have been this season, so nervous that my legs were shaking, and I couldn't gather any strength,” Nakai shared. “But I think overall it was good.

“I got the feedback from the Short Program today, and I don’t want to do the same mistakes in the Free Skating,” she continued.

Elyce Lin-Gracey (USA) shone, as well, in the Short Program and was edged out of the top three by less than a point with 66.11 points. ISU Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist Kaoruko Wada (JPN) is currently ranked fifth on 64.35 points followed by Elina Goidina (EST) on 64.15 points. Three-time ISU World Junior silver medalist Jia Shin (KOR) fell on the back end of her combination jump to finish seventh, but still can catch up in the Free Skating (63.57 points).

What and when 

The schedule of the ISU World Junior Championships 2025 is as follows:

• Wednesday, February 26: Junior Men’s Short Program, Junior Rhythm Dance
• Thursday, February 27: Junior Women’ Short Program, Junior Free Dance
• Friday, February 28: Junior Pairs Short Program & Junior Men’s Free Skating 
• Saturday, March 1: Junior Women’s & Junior Pairs Free Skating

For more information, full entry lists and results, visit the ISU event page of the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2025 and the official event website of the Championships. Follow the discussion on social media using #WorldJuniorFigure and #FigureSkating.