2017 Grand Prix Final Preview: Ladies
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Here’s the third part of our Grand Prix Final preview, featuring the ladies’ field!
Despite reigning 2-time World and GPF Champion Evgenia Medvedeva’s withdrawal due to a foot injury, the ladies’ field at this year’s Grand Prix Final is still unbelievably competitive; any of the six women have a chance at the podium depending on how the competition pans out. With ages spanning 15 years, Nagoya will feature fiery young newcomers and decorated veterans alike, each skater bringing unique qualities of their own to the table.
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ALINA ZAGITOVA
Representing: Russia
Age: 15
ISU Personal bests: SP 71.29, FS 151.34, total 218.46
ISU Season’s best: 218.46
Notable titles: 2017 Junior World Champion, 2016 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion, 2017 Russian National Silver Medalist
Programs: SP - Black Swan/Moonlight; FS - Don Quixote
Grand Prix events: Cup of China (1st), Internationaux de France (1st)
The youngest competitor in the field, this 15-year-old reigning Junior World Champion has turned heads on her first senior Grand Prix series as the newest in a long line of Russian wunderkinds. Alina is the only senior skater who backloads all of her jumps - placing them in the second half of her programs to receive a 10% base value bonus. Although some have criticized her programs as unbalanced, her technical skill is undeniable, as she won both of her Grand Prix events based on the strength of her free programs. Besides her training mate Evgenia Medvedeva, she is the only skater to break 150 points in the free skate this season. However, she has yet to skate a clean short program, and a messy SP nearly cost her the gold at Internationaux de France. It will be crucial for Alina to keep her score afloat in the SP as she aims for the Grand Prix Final title in this packed field.
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KAETLYN OSMOND
Representing: Canada
Age: 22
ISU Personal bests: SP 76.06, FS 142.34, total 218.13
ISU Season’s best: 217.55
Notable titles: 2017 World Silver Medalist, 3-time Canadian National Champion
Programs: SP - Sous le ciel de Paris/Milord; FS - Swan Lake
Grand Prix events: Skate Canada (1st), Internationaux de France (3rd)
One of Canada’s leading ladies from a young age, Kaetlyn struggled with injuries until she finally made it big on the international stage in the 2016-17 season, capping it off with a silver medal at the World Championships. Known for her powerful skating and big jumps, Kaetlyn shines in her Edith Piaf short program carried over from last season, but sometimes has trouble in the free skate. Kaetlyn won her home Grand Prix event, Skate Canada, but mistakes in the free skate dropped her to third place at Internationaux de France. When she’s on, she has both the technical ability and PCS to win the Grand Prix Final, but consistency will be key as she seeks to stand on the GPF podium for the first time.
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CAROLINA KOSTNER
Representing: Italy
Age: 30
ISU Personal bests: SP 77.24, FS 142.61, total 216.73
ISU Season’s best: 215.98
Notable titles: 2014 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2012 World Champion, 6-time World Medalist, 5-time European Champion, 2011 Grand Prix Final Champion, 8-time Italian National Champion
Programs: SP - Ne me quitte pas; FS - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Grand Prix events: Rostelecom Cup (2nd), NHK Trophy (2nd)
The oldest skater competing in the ladies’ field today at 30 years of age, Carolina Kostner hardly needs an introduction. With multiple titles accumulated over the course of her long career, Carolina returned to competition last season, placing third at the European Championships and sixth at the World Championships. She is often lauded for the quality of her skating and musical interpretation. Carolina won silver with a near-personal-best score at Rostelecom Cup, her first Grand Prix event, and placed second again at NHK Trophy, albeit with more mistakes. However, even though she will likely get some of the highest PCS in the Grand Prix Final field, her technical content is not as high as the other skaters’ and she will need to minimize errors in order to make it onto the Grand Prix Final podium again.
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MARIA SOTSKOVA
Representing: Russia
Age: 17
ISU Personal bests: SP 72.17, FS 140.99, total 208.78
ISU Season’s best: 208.78
Notable titles: 2016 Junior World Silver Medalist, 2013 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion, 2017 Russian National Bronze Medalist
Programs: SP - Swan Lake; FS - Clair de lune
Grand Prix events: Skate Canada (2nd), Internationaux de France (2nd)
Sometimes overlooked in the vast depth of the Russian ladies’ field, Maria has nevertheless proven her consistency over the last two seasons, winning silver at both of her Grand Prix events and qualifying for the Final for the second year in a row. She has the lowest season’s best score of the six women here, but ice is slippery and Maria has a fair chance at the GPF podium if she is clean and other skaters make mistakes. She will need to make sure she fully rotates all of her jumps, as she has sometimes been hit with underrotation calls in the past.
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WAKABA HIGUCHI
Representing: Japan
Age: 16
ISU Personal bests: SP 74.26, FS 145.30, total 217.63
ISU Season’s best: 217.63
Notable titles: 2-time Junior World Bronze Medalist, 2014 Junior Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalist, 3-time Japanese National Medalist
Programs: SP - Don Quixote; FS - Skyfall
Grand Prix events: Rostelecom Cup (3rd), Cup of China (2nd)
The steadiest Japanese woman on the Grand Prix series this season, Wakaba enters her first Grand Prix Final stronger than ever before, with two programs that perfectly show off her strengths. Her speed, skating skills, and powerful jumps are particularly highlighted in her “Skyfall” free skate, a fan favorite of the season. Wakaba placed third at Rostelecom Cup and second at Cup of China, narrowly losing the latter to Alina Zagitova. She has high scoring potential when she’s on, and if she produces the strong performances she’s come to be known for, she has a good shot at the Grand Prix Final podium. However, she will need to make sure she fully rotates her combinations and avoids popping any jumps, mistakes that have brought her down in the past. Consistent performances at the Final will also strengthen Wakaba’s case for Japan’s two-person ladies’ Olympic team.
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SATOKO MIYAHARA
Representing: Japan
Age: 19
ISU Personal bests: SP 74.64, FS 143.69, total 218.33
ISU Season’s best: 214.03
Notable titles: 2015 World Silver Medalist, 2016 Four Continents Champion, 2-time Grand Prix Final Silver Medalist, 3-time Japanese National Champion
Programs: SP - Memoirs of a Geisha; FS - Madama Butterfly
Grand Prix events: NHK Trophy (5th), Skate America (1st)
Japan’s no.1 lady for the last three years, Satoko’s 2016-17 season was abruptly cut short when she was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her hip, forcing her to withdraw from competitions in the second half of the season. She returned to competition after extensive rehab at this season’s NHK Trophy, finishing in 5th place. Undeterred and trusting in the process of her training, Satoko continued to fight to regain the remarkable consistency that she was known for before her injury. Her efforts paid off with a gold medal at Skate America, and after the withdrawal of Evgenia Medvedeva, Satoko was called up to compete at the Grand Prix Final in her home country. Although her small jumps have never been a forte and she has yet to return to top physical form, the quality of Satoko’s skating speaks for itself. She has some of the best spins in the ladies’ field - including the rare ability to spin in both directions - as well as smooth skating skills and detailed choreography. Her placement at the Final, which can have an impact on her inclusion on Japan’s Olympic team, will depend mainly on whether she receives underrotation calls on her jumps, a longtime issue for her. However, if she’s on, Satoko is a definite threat for the Grand Prix Final podium.