Skate Canada 2023: Sakamoto Kaori begins quest for third consecutive world title - Preview
The Japanese star is favoured in Vancouver at the second Grand Prix of the season, which also features 2023 world medallists Cha Junhwan and ice dance duo Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. See a full preview.
Figure Skating
Sakamoto Kaori's quest for a third consecutive world title begins in full this weekend (27 and 28 October) in Vancouver, Canada.
The reigning and two-time world figure skating champ has made her intentions for this season clear: "I aim for a three-peat at Japanese Nationals and the World Championships," she said recently, according to the Japanese media.
The 23-year-old headlines the action at Skate Canada International, the second of six Grand Prix stops in the Series, which will culminate with December’s Grand Prix Final in Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Joining Sakamoto in British Columbia are fellow reigning world medallists Cha Jun-hwan and the ice dance duo of Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, as well as the pairs team of Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, who were fourth at Worlds earlier this year.
Canadians Gilles and Poirier are looking for a fourth title at their home Grand Prix, while compatriots Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps are making their debut at the event as a team.
See a full preview of the event below, the Skate Canada schedule – and information on how to tune in on TV and online livestream.
Skate Canada 2023 - women: Sakamoto vs. the field
It's been a big few weeks for Sakamoto, who kicked off her season with wins at smaller-level events before claiming victory at the Japan Open, a free skate-only event, held earlier this month. She also made the trip back home to claim another hard-earned prize: Her college diploma.
“Balancing sports and studying was incredibly tough,” Sakamoto said, having earned a degree in business administration. “But I thought that being a student was something I could only do now, so I did my best.”
She'll now turn her attention solely to skating, and will be heavily favoured in a field that also includes Japanese compatriot Watanabe Rinka, the surprise 2022 champion at this event. Canadians Madeline Schizas and Kaiya Ruiter are ones to watch, as is Starr Andrews, who won her first Grand Prix medal here a year ago, too.
French veteran Mae Berenice Meite makes her return to the Grand Prix for the first time (outside of France) in four years, while 16-year-old Kim Chae-yeon of the Republic of Korea makes her GP debut after a promising win at Nepela Trophy earlier this season.
Cha Junhwan without longtime coach Brian Orser
Kim's countryman Cha looks to continue on his success from landing on the world podium to end last season, though he separated with longtime coach Brian Orser, the 1988 Olympic silver medallist, in the off-season. He was second at Shanghai Trophy to open the season but struggled to sixth at Nepela Trophy.
A trio of Japanese skaters - Miura Kao, Tomono Kazuki and Yamamoto Sota - will look to challenge Cha, Miura the reigning world junior champion as well as the surprise winner at Four Continents. Tomono, meanwhile, was sixth at Worlds.
Also to watch for: Matteo Rizzo of Italy and Canada's Conrad Orzel.
Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps are the favourites in pairs, though there will be intrigue around Lucrezia Beccari and Matteo Guarise, the Italians in just their second season together.
Gilles/Poirier are after a fourth consecutive win at their home Grand Prix, but they face stiff competition in Great Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson, Wang Shiyue and Lu Xinyu of China as well as Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius of Lithuania.
Skate Canada 2023: Schedule
All times listed in local Vancouver time, Pacific Daylight Time. (GMT -7)
- Friday, 27 October
14:00 – Women's short program
15:50 – Ice dance rhythm dance
18:45 – Pairs short program
20:10 – Men's short program - Saturday, 28 October
13:15 – Women's free skate
15:25 – Ice dance free dance
18:00 – Pairs free skate
19:37 – Men's free skate - Sunday, 29 October
14:00 – Exhibition gala
You can see the full official schedule here.
Skate Canada 2023: How to tune in
American fans can catch the action via livestream on Peacock throughout the weekend. NBC will host a recap show at noon ET the following weekend, on Saturday (4 November).
See the full U.S. broadcast schedule here. Canadians can watch on CBC and its subsequent platforms.
For international fans, the ISU provides a "where to watch" page here. Some regions may be geo-restricted when it comes to availability.