SUMIYOSHI and HIGUCHI with a smile (Photo: REUTERS/AFLO)
HIGUCHI Wakaba will compete in Figure Skating Grand Prix Final after winning silver medal at Grand Prix Series in France !
HIGUCHI Wakaba participated in the third round of the Grand Prix Figure Skating Series in France from November 2 to 3 Japan time. She finished second overall and won a silver medal. In the short program, several jumps were unfortunately judged to be under-rotated, but she achieved level 4-steps and spins, the highest difficulty level, and finished third with 66.98 points. In the free skating program, she completed seven jumps, including three consecutive jumps in the second half, without making any mistakes and scored 139.10 points, the first place score in the program. With a total of 206.08 points, she took second place overall and won a silver medal.
This was HIGUCHI's second consecutive podium finish, following her first victory in the first round of the Grand Prix Series in the United States. With this result, she will advance to the Grand Prix Final for the first time in seven years and became the first female athlete to advance to the Final.
HIGUCHI, who will advance to the Grand Prix Final for the first time in seven years
(Photo: Manuel Blondeau/AOP.Press/AFLO)
SUMIYOSHI Rion earns bronze medal with over 200 points for first time in career !
SUMIYOSHI participated in the competition and finished third overall. In the short program, she lost her balance on the landing of the triple flip, but her emotional performance placed her in fifth place with 66.88 points. In the free skating program, she took on a quadruple toe loop with determination, which she succeeded in for the first time as a Japanese female skater in the third round of the Grand Prix Series in France last year. She successfully landed all seven jumps and used her entire body in a comfortable performance, scoring 134.47 points to finish second. With a total of 201.35 points, she scored over 200 points for the first time in her career. As a result, she took third place overall and won a bronze medal.
SUMIYOSHI, who finished third overall (Photo: Manuel Blondeau/AOP.Press/AFLO)