Grand Prix Final 2023: World champion Sakamoto Kaori claims first Final win, capping golden Grand Prix
The Japanese star had one wobble in the free skate, but was otherwise sparkling. Loena Hendrickx grabbed silver. In ice dance, Chock/ Bates won a first GP Final gold in seven career appearances at the event.
Figure Skating
Sakamoto Kaori has secured her first Grand Prix Final gold.
Japan's two-time and reigning world champion withstood one major wobble in Saturday (9 December)'s free skate in Beijing, People's Republic of China, to claim her maiden title at the elite figure skating event, scoring a 225.70 to easily clear ahead of Belgium's Loena Hendrickx at 203.36.
Yoshida Hana of Japan rallied for the bronze, slipping in just behind Hendrickx at 203.16.
Sakamoto was back in the Chinese capital just shy of two years since her Beijing 2022 Olympic bronze medal. It was last year at the Final in Torino, Italy, that she slipped from first after the short program to finish in fifth.
Saturday was different: The 23-year-old beamed in the "kiss and cry" as her 148.35 came through, sealing her victory. She stumbled on a mid-program triple flip that was intended to be a combination, but bounced back immediately, hitting a triple flip-triple toe-loop, before tacking on two more combination passes in what was a complete performance of her Lauryn Hill medley free.
"I’m so happy I cried a little," Sakamoto said in Japanese. "I was a little surprised with the mistake since I almost never make that one, even in practice.
"This season, I felt like I could do it [at the Final]," she added. "And it was for me to lose as long as I ticked off all the boxes."
Sakamoto next sets her sights on a fourth national title at the Japanese national championships in two week's time.
Earlier, in the ice dance, reigning world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. won the Final for a first time in seven career appearances, out-distancing Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy for gold, 221.61 points to 215.51.
Sakamoto remains unbeaten in 2023-24 season
That mid-program wobble on the flip could have spelled doom for Sakamoto, but she allowed no such breakdown to happen, righting her ship immediately with the flip-toe combo and displaying focused, engaging skating to help her to a segment-leading 73.31 in the free skate's program component (artistry) scores.
She reflected on her maturation over the last year since that mid-Final meltdown 12 months ago: "I went into the Final last year confused - and it showed in competition," she said of 2022. "I think it may have been my worst performance ever. But I knew I couldn’t be any worse and I’ve been a lot more motivated than last season. I feel like I’ve matured and mentally I’ve been in a much better state."
Hendrickx, 24, revealed after the short program she's battled illness and injury (to her back) over the last several weeks. She had shaky moments in her free, too, including a doubled triple Lutz attempt in her Beyonce and Madonna medley.
A 130.11 was only fourth in the long program, with Yoshida using the lone triple Axel of the women's free to help launch her from fourth onto the podium. She finished just 0.20 points behind Hendrickx, her 142.51 second only to Sakamoto for the free.
Like Yoshida, American Isabeau Levito had a strong showing in the free, placing third to help her step from sixth to fifth (191.86). Another teen, Nina Pinzarrone of Belgium, was fourth (194.91).
Sumiyoshi Rion of Japan rounded out the women's event in sixth (180.39).
Ice dance: In 7th GPF, Chock/ Bates win first
In dance, Chock/Bates claimed their first GP Final title, much like their fellow 2023 world champion Sakamoto. It was their seventh appearance at the event, having made their debut in 2014.
A four-point edge after the rhythm dance was buoyed by a shining free skate, the team earning positive GOEs (Grades of Execution) across every element while leading the way in program components (57.72).
They – also like Sakamoto – go three from three at their Grand Prix stops this year, with wins during the Series at Skate America and Grand Prix Espoo.
Reigning GPF champions Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada rounded out the podium with a 213.58.
They are skating this season with an in-the-moment approach after Gilles went through a battle with ovarian cancer earlier this year. In fact, all three top teams – each veterans – have said they are approaching things season-by-season.