PARIS, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps of Canada continued their momentum in the pairs free skating at the ISU Grand Prix de France in Angers here on Saturday, as the short program leaders got another 121.51 points to win the gold with a combination of 185.84.
Home favorites Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev earned the silver, while Germany's Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel jumped from fifth to take the bronze.
"It wasn't the easiest week of competition this week, it was pretty challenging," Deschamps, 30, said. "But we fought together this week, we have learned from each other. We're pleased for all the fight tonight and now we've qualified for the final. So we're looking forward to going there and still improving."
Skating to "Cleopatra", Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps performed a high triple twist followed by a triple toe-double toe combination. The 2022 Skate America silver medalists impressed with their spectacular lifts and a rarely-seen forward outside death spiral. The only major glitch came when Stellato-Dudek fell on the throw triple loop.
"This is our second season competing internationally and every experience that we've had has been new. The first time being in the lead after the short, the first time skating last, the first time not having a good short. So it's been a lot of new things each time," the 39-year-old Stellato-Dudek said about the victory.
In the men's competition, Adam Siao Him Fa became the first Frenchman to win an ISU Grand Prix gold medal in 13 years on home ice as he beat short program winner Sota Yamomoto of Japan with a stellar performance in the free skating which earned him a personal best of 180.98 points.
Yamomoto claimed the silver ahead of teammate Kazuki Tomono.
"I am very proud of myself today," the Frenchman said. "I felt really calm and relaxed during the program. The audience helped me a lot, they were really supportive, and it was really motivating. I'm really happy to win my first Grand Prix. I can see with my team we did a good job and I think I have to continue in this way. I can see I have my place with the best skaters in the world."
World silver medalist Loena Hendrickx of Belgium celebrated her 23rd birthday with a gold in the women's competition. South Korea's Kim Ye-lim earned the silver while Rion Sumiyoshi from Japan rose from fifth to the bronze.
The gold medal of the ice dance went to Italy's two-time European bronze medalists Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri, with Canadians Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Soerensen claiming the silver and France's Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud taking the bronze. ■
