Junior Grand Prix Final - Shimada Mao captures title, becoming first Japanese woman to do so in 13 years
The skater attempted both a triple Axel and quadruple jump on her way to the win in Turin, Italy. Korea's Shin Ji-a and Kim Chae-yeon finish two-three.
Figure Skating
Shimada Mao is following in the footsteps of her Japanese namesake.
The 14-year-old won the Junior Grand Prix Final on Friday (9 December), in Turin, Italy, attempting both a triple Axel and a quadruple toe-loop in her free skate and holding off a challenge from the Republic of Korea's Shin Ji-a.
Shimada scored a 205.54 for the win, while Shin registered a 200.32.
Shimada is named for Japanese figure skating legend Asada Mao, the Vancouver 2010 silver medallist and a three-time world champion. Asada won the Junior GPF in 2004, though the last Japanese woman to triumph here was Murakami Kanako in 2009.
Another Korean skater, Kim Chae-yeon, won the bronze medal with a 190.36 at the Torino Palavela, which is hosting both the junior and senior events. It's the first staging of the Grand Prix Final since 2019, with the event being cancelled the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Shimada skated last have led by just 0.55 points after the short program, "Passepied" and "Wild Swans Suite" punctuated by two big jump attempts to open the program. She turned out of the Axel and put her hand down to save the landing, but then looked strong on the quad toe - which was later called for an uder-rotation.
Shimada did seven more triple jumps in the free, earning a 73.40 Technical Components score - the best of the day.
In the junior men's event, American Lucas Broussard leads after the short program with a 81.11. The junior men are set to finish on Saturday (10 December). Learn more about the top juniors in the world here.
Shimada Mao: Asada has 'always been my idol'
It was a steady performance from Shimada, who swept three golds this season at each of her three Grand Prix events. She is the fifth Japanese woman to win the junior title here, joining Asada, Murakami, Ando Miki (2001, 03) and Ota Yukina (2002).
"Asada Mao has always been my idol, my inspiration, what I’ve been aiming for," she said, via an interpreter. "I would like to perform like her, making people who watch me smile. And I would like to become an athlete who can win the Olympics or World Championships."
Added Shimada about her performance on Friday: "The coach told me that I’m a challenger here, so instead of being defensive, I should show the performance which would play to the crowd."
“I’m very happy that I was able to win while competing with [the] six top athletes, and I feel little bit more confident now.”
Shin and Kim are the first skaters from the Republic of Korea to win a Junior Grand Prix Final medal in the women's event since Yuna Kim won the title in 2005.
It's the first time that two Korean women have medalled at the same Final.
Nakai Ami of Japan finished fourth with a 189.23, while Korean Kwon Minsol was fifth at 175.43 and Yoshida Hana of Japan rounded out the competitors with a 158.30.
Earlier, in the junior ice dance rhythm dance, Nadiia Bashynska and Peter Beaumont of Canada took the lead with a 67.74 after two major errors from the favourites, Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek, putting them in fourth (64.08).