ISU Junior Grand Prix 2024: Shimada Mao wins second gold of the season in Gdansk
The two-time world junior champion won the women's competition on Friday (28 September) after topping both the short and free programs.
Figure Skating
Japanese figure skating sensation Shimada Mao claimed her second ISU Junior Grand Prix gold medal of the 2024 season with a dominant performance in Gdansk, Poland on Friday (27 September).
Highlighting her class, 15-year-old Shimada earned a sixth career victory after skating into the lead in the short program to Defying Gravity.
The two-time ISU World Junior Champion cemented her place at the top of the leaderboard with a winning Free Skating routine which included a quad toe loop to the Japanese piece Mado Kara Mier.
Shimada scored a new personal best of 224.68, more than 26 points clear of compatriot Wada Kaoruko (198.22) in second place. Nayeon Ko of the Republic of Korea rounded out the podium with 180.14.
The Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic champion Shimada tops the leaderboard with two more events in hand ahead of the Junior Grand Prix Finale in Grenoble, France from 5 to 8 December.
The competition continues Saturday (28 September) as the men's competition wraps up with the free program.
Fans can catch all the action live on the ISU's Junior Grand Prix YouTube channel.
Top-10 women’s results:
- Shimada Mao (JPN) 224.68
- Wada Kaoruko (JPN) 198.22
- Ko Nayeon (KOR) 180.14
- Anna Pezzeta (ITA) 169.21
- Leandra Tzimpoukakis (SUI) 167.36
- Alica Lengyelova (SVK) 164.68
- Kim Yujae (KOR) 160.19
- Angel Delevaque (NED) 155.48
- Kira Baranovska (LAT) 154.63
- Olivia Bacsa (SUI) 153.73
Lukas Vaclavik tops men's competition
In the men’s competition, Slovakia’s Lukas Vaclavik claimed his first gold medal of the season with his second-place finish in the freestyle program launching him to the top spot with a total score of 207.78.
Vaclavik came into Saturday’s freestyle event in third place following the short program looking to unseat Japan’s Takahashi Sena, who was top of the leaderboard.
The Slovak skater landed two triple Axels in his routine which contributed to his victory with overall series leader Takahashi settling for second place just over nine points adrift (198.42). Seo Minkyu of the Republic of Korea finished third with 195.86.
Top-10 men’s results:
- Lukas Vaclavik (SVK) 207.78
- Takahashi Sena (JPN) 198.42
- Seo Minkyu (KOR) 195.86
- Tamir Kuperman (ISR) 195.38
- Anthony Paradis (CAN) 192.70
- Luka Imedashvili (LTU) 178.67
- Yehor Kurtsev (UKR) 172.73
- Matias Lindfors (FIN) 171.62
- Aurelian Chervet (SUI) 164.09
- Jakub Lofek (POL) 161.54