Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR) topped an entertaining Rhythm Dance as the ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy opened in Osaka (JPN) Friday. The NHK Trophy is the fourth stop of six of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series 2025/26.

Fear/Gibson on top as Shibutanis return to competition

Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys and Enrique Iglesias – the 90s were back in the Rhythm Dance at NHK Trophy. 2025 ISU World bronze medalists Fear/Lewis came out on top, taking a commanding lead over three-time ISU European Champions Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri of Italy and 2022 ISU Four Continents Champions Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA).

Fear/Gibson made it clear right from the start that they are from Great Britain – from the music to the costume in the Union Jack design. Dancing to “Wannabe”, “Who Do You Think You Are” and “Spice Up Your Life”, the two-time ISU European silver medalists produced fast twizzles and a whirling rotation lift that drew extra applause from the crowd. The reward was a new season‘s best score of 81.57 points. 

Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (GBR) donned the Spice Girls' iconic threads as they achieved a season's best with their Girl Power-inspired Rhythm Dance routine. © ISU

“When we found out that it was 90s for this year's theme, it was so obvious that we had to do Spice Girls, especially in Olympic season,” Fear said. 

“We wanted to be very patriotic in both programs and Spice Girls, they embody such empowerment. They are so individual in who they are. They all have such different personalities that they let shine. I think that represents our sport very well, how we're all so unique and go out there and express ourselves and it's so powerful. 

“We also love the songs, and they're incredibly catchy and we hoped that the crowd would too.“

“The first day was great,” Gibson said. “It's always so fun to be back in Japan and to be in front of such a large crowd as well so early in the day of competition. It was such a pleasure and just a great feeling to be back.”

Guignard/Fabbri brought the Backstreet Boys on to the ice with their lively performance that was highlighted by a straight line lift and smooth steps. However, they lost a few points when Fabbri wobbled on the twizzles. The two-time ISU World medalists earned 76.36 points. 

“I am disappointed with myself. Making a mistake while Charlene is not at a 100 percent is not great but it was still a pleasure to skate today,” Fabbri commented - Guignard had an accident in practice on Thursday when colliding with another couple but said she is doing fine. 

Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ITA) skated to the Backstreet Boys and their routine proved to be the way the judges liked it. © ISU

The Italians changed the middle part of their music to another Backstreet Boys song. 

“We got feedback after the Grand Prix de France that the music was not energetic enough, so we changed it,” Fabbri explained. 

Green/Parsons celebrated a strong comeback from their disappointment at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China where he fell on the twizzles and got injured so that they had to withdraw from the Free Dance. In Osaka, the team delivered a flawless performance to “Groove Is in the Heart” and “I’m Too Sexy” to achieve a season’s best of 75.14 points. 

Caroline Green and Michael Parsons (USA) grooved into third position with a flawless 90s performance which Deee-Lited the Okada crowd and claimed a season's best. © ISU

“The feeling that we had finishing the program today on this ice in this rink in front of this crowd is why we skate,” Parsons shared.

“We're so proud of what we did. Just the contrast of having probably the hardest competitive experience of our careers two weeks ago to come here and put down the skates that we know we can just feels incredible and we're so happy to be here,” he added.

Natalie Taschlerova/Filip Taschler (CZE) came fourth on 74.70 points with their fun dance to songs by Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez while Katarina Wolfkostin/Dmitry Tsarevski (USA) ranked fifth on 72.12 points.

2018 Olympic bronze medalists Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani (USA) made their much anticipated comeback after a break of seven years and were greeted by huge applause from the crowd. They brought the vibes of a night out in Tokyo in the 90s on to the ice and scored 71.74 points to place sixth. 

The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix Skate NHK Trophy is as follows:

Friday, November 7: Rhythm Dance, Pairs, Men’s & Women’s Short Programs
 Saturday, November 8: Free Dance, Pairs, Men’s & Women’s Free Skating
 Sunday, November 9: Exhibition Gala

ISU Grand Prix Standings

Check out who is on their way to qualify for 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.

Where to Watch

Follow the Where to Watch News here.

Connect with the world of ice skating through the new ISU App.

Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:

The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

17 - 19 Oct 2025                      Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)

24 - 26 Oct 2025                      Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)

31 Oct - 2 Nov 2025                Skate Canada International in Saskatoon (CAN)

7 - 9 Nov 2025                         NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN)

14- 16 Nov 2025                        Skate America in Lake Placid (USA)  

21 - 23 Nov 2025                      Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN) 

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 

4 - 7 Dec 2025                       Nagoya (JPN)