In-command Loena Hendrickx claims second Grand Prix title with win at Skate America, Isabeau Levito takes silver 

Favourited coming into Skate America, Loena Hendrickx delivered from starting pose to final bow.

The 23-year-old reigning world bronze medallist was solid throughout the two-day Grand Prix, the first of the 2023-24 season, capturing her second gold medal at this level with a commanding performance, her 221.28 some 13 points clear of runner-up Isabeau Levito, the 16-year-old home American hope at 208.15.

Estonia's Niina Petrokina made history for her country, winning its first-ever GP medal in any discipline with a 194.55.

American Amber Glenn, a local to the Dallas area at this Allen, Texas, event, landed a triple Axel for the first time in international competition to open her free skate but faltered thereafter, finishing fifth. Glenn is the sixth American woman to land a triple Axel.

Yoshida Hana (190.98) of Japan was fourth.

"I worked so hard... and to achieve this is everything I've dreamed of," Hendrickx, the Belgian, told the Credit Union of Texas Event Center crowd. "I want to enjoy skating and do clean performances like today. I want to enjoy the journey."

Earlier, in ice dance, reigning world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. captured their fourth Skate America title and second in a row.

Tara Lipinski on Hendrickx: 'She just did her job'

Hendrickx had a four-point cushion over Glenn coming into the free skate, and was given some extra breathing room when the American struggled in her long program just prior to the Belgian taking to the ice.

That didn't matter for the 2022 world silver and 2023 bronze medallist, Hendrickx skating to a remix of Beyonce's "Break My Soul" that included Madonna's "Vogue."

She was called a quarter under-rotated on her opening triple Lutz-triple toe-loop combination, but was solid thereafter, landing four more triples and racking up 72.94 points for her artistry, some five points north of Levito.

"She went out there with confidence and just did her job," said Nagano 1998 Olympic champion Tara Lipinski on U.S. broadcaster NBC. "At the end of the day, that's what it takes."

"I'm still in shock," Hendrickx said herself on NBC. "I'm really happy with my performance this competition. It gives me more confidence for this season."

Levito said much the same. She had minor bobbles in her short program, but was consistently solid in her free to "The White Crow" soundtrack.

"This long program was better than my short today," she said on NBC. "I still made minor mistakes but I'm excited to get back to work. I'm excited to continue improving."

Ice dance: Chock /Bates claim fourth Skate America title

Chock/Bates are picking up where they left off in 2023, having captured a first world title before helping the U.S. to victory at the World Team Trophy in April at the end of last season.

Their Pink Floyd medley free dance was a hit with both fans and judges alike, earning a 128.09 to bring the Americans to 212.96 overall.

Their Montreal-based training mates Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha of Canada earned the silver (196.99) while France's Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud took the bronze (193.47).

Chock/Bates are in their 13th season on the Grand Prix and say they're inspired by the creative side of the sport, which this season has led them to Queen for their rhythm dance (per ISU guidelines for dance teams to use an '80s-themed music choice) and Pink Floyd.

"We've been doing this for a long time," Chock told reporters. "What keeps us coming back is how are we going to re-invent ourselves each season; how are we going to come back? We're so inspired to see what we can create. Sometimes our programs challenge us right back and that's what we love about it."