American Isabeau Levito skates to lead after short program at Skate America
2023 world champs Miura and Kihara lead the pairs event.
Figure Skating
Reigning world silver medallist Isabeau Levito and 2018 Olympic team bronze medallist Bradie Tennell, both of the United States, finished first and second in the short program Friday evening (18 October) at the 2024 Skate America in Allen, Texas.
The event is the first of six International Skating Union Grand Prix competitions around the globe. The series culminates in a final in December in Grenoble, France.
On Friday, Levito posted a 68.43 to lead Tennell’s 66.99. Japan’s Watanabe Rinka (66.54) finished third, edging out teammate Higuchi Wakaba, who scored 66.12. Belgium’s Nina Pinzarrone scored 62.85 to round out the top five.
Levito was last to go in the second group of skaters, using music from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and clad in a costume that pays tribute to its star, Audrey Hepburn.
"I'm enjoying dressing up as [her] and feeling like a movie star in my short program this year," said Levito.
In Allen, the 17-year-old was the star, ticking off three jumping passes before the music turned playful in the second half of the program.
"I felt pretty satisified with my performance today. I really like this program, and it's one of the first times I'm competing it for the season," Levito said in the post-even press conference. "I'm very excited to continue skating to this music."
It was a triumphant return for Tennell, who last competed on the Grand Prix circuit nearly two years ago in Espoo.
Afterward, the 26-year-old, who has dealt with a rash of injuries over the past two seasons, told reporters she doubted whether she could return to the form needed to challenge internationally.
“Five months off and two surgeries is a major ordeal. I wasn’t sure I was ever gonna be able to jump again,” said the American. “It’s been a very long road.
“It was worth every day of doubt, every small setback, every moment of ‘Can I ever get back to this level again?’”
Competition continues Saturday (19 October) with the rhythm dance, pairs free skate, men's short program and the women's free skate.
2024 Skate America: Miura and Kihara ease to top spot
2023 world champions Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi of Japan skated last in the pairs short program.
They lived up to the anticipation, using a powerful and driving program set to music by Mick Jagger to sail to the top of the standings. Miura and Kihara flew across the ice as they opened with their triple twist, before executing side-by-side triple toes.
“We are very happy that we were able to end our performance without any big mistakes,” Miura said afterward, before noting their excitement at receiving a level four on their death spiral.
The Japanese duo, who finished second earlier this year at the World Championships, earned a short program score of 77.79, well clear of Americans Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea (70.66). Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava rounded out the top three at 68.64
For Kam and O’Shea, the short program represents the first step in erasing what was a disappointing Grand Prix season a year ago.
“The Grand Prix season didn’t go very well for us [last season],” said O’Shea. “But there was a lot that we learned throughout the whole season.
“We’re just so happy with our programs [now]. We think they are the best content we’ve had yet, and some of the hardest programs we’ve had yet,” he continued. “We’ve made a lot of improvements technically across the last season.”