Shoma Uno (JPN) performs during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Skate Canada International in Mississauga, Ontario.© ISU
ISU World Champions Shoma Uno (JPN), Kaori Sakamoto (JPN), as well as ISU World Pairs silver medalists Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) and ISU World Ice Dance bronze medalists Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) are in action at the ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy in Sapporo (JPN) this week. These stars and other top skaters aim at sealing a spot in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino (December 8-11, 2022) at this fifth and penultimate event of the Series.
Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) competes during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Skate America in Norwood, Massachusetts..© ISU
Overview of the competitors
Women’s Category:
Reigning ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) is the hot favorite, but she has to watch out for teammate Rinka Watanabe who came out of nowhere to beat her earlier this season at the ISU Challenger event Lombardia Trophy. Both women won their first ISU Grand Prix and aim at making the Final. Grand
Rinka Watanabe (JPN) performs during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Skate Canada in Mississauga, Ontario..© ISU
Prix de France silver medalist Yelim Kim (KOR) and Skate Canada silver medalist Starr Andrews (USA) join the battle for the podium and the points.
Yelim Kim (KOR) competes during the 2022 SU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Grand Prix de France in Angers, France. .© ISU
Other competitors include Skate America bronze medalist Amber Glenn, Grand Prix de France bronze medalist Rion Sumiyoshi (JPN), Niina Petrokina (EST) and Seoyeong Wi (KOR).
Men’s Category:
Not less than six ISU Grand Prix medalists from this season are on their way to Sapporo and the fight for the podium will be fierce. ISU World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN) struck gold at Skate Canada and leads the charge. He will face newly minted Grand Prix de France Champion Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA), Grand Prix de France silver medalist Sota Yamamoto (JPN) as well as Skate America bronze medalist and ISU Four Continents Champion Junhwan Cha (KOR), Skate Canada bronze medalist Matteo Rizzo (ITA) and Grand Prix de France bronze medalist Kazuki Tomono (JPN).
Sota Yamamoto (JPN) performs during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Grand Prix de France in Angers, France. © ISU
Pairs Category:
2022 ISU World silver medalists Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) headline the Pairs field and want to add another gold medal to their resume after claiming the Skate Canada title.
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) perform during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Skate Canada International in Mississauga, Ontario.© ISU
Skate Canada silver medalists Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe (USA) and Grand Prix de France silver medalists Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev (FRA) are looking for another podium finish and their chance to make the ISU Grand Prix Final.
Camille Kovalev and Pavel Kovalev (FRA) compete in the Pairs Free Skating during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Grand Prix de France in Angers, France. Ontario.© ISU
Ice Dance Category:
In the Ice Dance event, Skate America Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) want to book their ticket to Torino for the Final with another victory. Competition should come from Grand Prix de France silver medalists Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Soerensen (CAN), Grand Prix de France bronze medalists Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA) and 2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalists Kana Muramoto/Daisuke Takahashi (JPN).
Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen (CAN) perform during the 2022 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Grand Prix de France in Angers, France..© ISU
Others to watch include ISU Four Continents Champions Caroline Green/Michael Parsons (USA) and Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu (CHN).
Shiyue Wang and Xinyu Liu (CHN) skate during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China..© Getty Images
A total of 56 Skaters/Couples representing 14 ISU members have been entered for the event.
Schedule of the event
The schedule is as follows:
Friday, November 18: Pairs & Women’s Short Programs, Rhythm Dance, Men’s Short Program
Saturday, November 19: Pairs & Women’s Free Skating, Free Dance, Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, November 20: Exhibition Gala
The NHK Trophy in Sapporo (JPN) November 18-20, 2022, is the fifth of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.
More than 150 Skaters/Couples representing 29 ISU Members have been invited to the Series. The maximum number of entries for each event is 12 Ladies, 12 Men, 8 Pairs and 10 Ice Dance couples.
The General Announcement of the 2022/23 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series is available here. The individual announcements are published under the respective events. Full entry lists and further information are available on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series page.
Selection Criteria
In order for a Skater/Couple to be eligible to compete at an ISU Grand Prix event, a minimum total score must have been achieved in the 2021/22 or current 2022/23 season in an ISU event (Grand Prix, Junior Grand Prix, Championships) or a Challenger Series event. Exceptions apply to host country Skaters, previously ranked Skaters or split ranked Couples who return with new partners. The minimum total score is 3/5 of highest score per discipline at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2022 and are as follows: Women: 141.65, Men: 187.49, Pairs: 132.65, Ice Dance: 137.89.
Following the IOC recommendation and in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants of international ice skating competitions, the ISU Council based on Article 17.1.q)i) of the ISU Constitution, agreed that with immediate effect and until further notice, no Skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus) shall be invited or allowed to participate in International ice skating competitions including ISU Championships and other ISU Events. The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus (see ISU Communication 2469).
Grand Prix Standings
Men Women Ice Dance Pair Skating
Where to Watch
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed on the official ISU YouTube Channel in most countries. Find out where to watch the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competitions.
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ISU Grand Prix Schedule
The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events are available below:
21 - 23 Oct, 2022 Skate America, Norwood (USA)
28 – 30 Oct, 2022 Skate Canada International, Mississauga (CAN)
04 - 06 Nov, 2022 Grand Prix de France, Angers (FRA)
11 - 13 Nov, 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy, Sheffield (GBR)
18 - 20 Nov, 2022 NHK Trophy, Sapporo (JPN)
25 - 27 Nov, 2022 Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN)
08 - 11 Dec, 2022 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Torino (ITA)
About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their Grand Prix events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.