Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin claim back-to-back Grand Prix Final golds with pairs victory

For the second year in a row, the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final pairs title belongs to Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin.

The German duo skated last on Friday (6 December) evening in Grenoble, France, and delivered under pressure, soaring to a 218.10 total with a 141.38 free skate score.

They were well clear of 2023 world champions Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi of Japan, who scored a 206.71 (130.44). Miura/Kihara won this event in 2022.

Hase/Volodin only teamed up in October of 2022, but have risen to the upper echelon of pair skating in that short time, including a bronze medal at the World Championships earlier this year.

The reigning pairs world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada withdrew from the event earlier this week due to an illness for Max.

Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava of Georgia claimed the bronze medal with a 205.78. Their podium placement marks a first for their nation at the GP Final.

"This time was for sure much harder than last year," Hase told the audience in Grenoble. "Last year we didn't have any expectations. This year, as defending champions, we for sure had more pressure... so we are happy that we made it."

"We were really nervous, especially me," Hase added. "We are grateful that we put in two good performances."

Hase/Volodin are the first pairs team to go back-to-back at the Final since another German duo: Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy in 2010 and 2011.

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Former champions Miura/Kihara settle for silver

Hase/Volodin led by just 0.45 points (76.72 to 76.27) over the Japanese duo going into the free skate.

But Miura/Kihara, the penultimate team to skate, struggled in their "Adios" free skate, with Miura doubling their planned side-by-side triple toeloops, then falling on both the throw triple loop and throw triple Lutz. A look of disappointed was fixed across both of their faces upon completion.

"There were a few unusual mistakes and technical mistakes here," Kihara said, via translation. "We need to fix these things. I think it’s important to keep calm, especially when we are skating. Today, we made some mistakes. Because of that, the timing didn’t work."

Added Miura: "We have practised the program in competition-like situations, but we should do that more often."

The door was left open for Hase/Volodin - and they burst through it.

They opened with a strong triple twist before Minerva put her hand down to save their side-by-side triple toes. From there, the Germans went strength to strength in their medley free, set to music by Antonio Vivaldi and Karl Hugo.

Hase had scratched herself on her lower right leg in practice on Thursday (5 December), skating with a big patch just below her knee to secure the injury.

Metelkina/Berulava are making a strong transition to the senior ranks, having won the World Junior title in 2024 - and placing seventh at senior Worlds.

"We are very happy that we will get a medal," Berulava said of their historic achievement. "We will work more to always skate clean. We cannot afford to make any mistakes."

Added Metelkina: "It's mixed feelings. I'm happy that we were almost able to skate clean, but I always want to skate clean and I had a mistake on the [triple Salchow-double Axel] jump, so I am a bit upset. But we will keep fighting and getting better."

Italians Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii (200.06) settled for fourth having won medals (bronze and silver) in their first to Grand Prix Final appearances. Americans Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea were fifth (198.26), while Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini of Italy wrapped up in sixth place (181.52).