Gold medalist Sakamoto Kaori (C) of Japan, silver medalist Loena Hendrickx (L) of Belgium and bronze medalist Yoshida Hana of Japan pose during the awarding ceremony for the women's skating event at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023 in Beijing, China, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Japanese star skater Kaori Sakamoto dominated the women's event despite an error in triple flip during the free skating, while the US favorite Ilia Malinin clinched the men's gold at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final here on Saturday.
"I adjusted myself quickly after the mistake and had a great overall performance. I have maintained a positive mindset this season and become mature step by step," said Sakamoto, who ranked first after the short program on Friday and won the gold with a total score of 225.70 points.
Belgium's Loena Hendrickx earned 203.36 points to secure the women's silver, just 0.2 points ahead the bronze medalist Hana Yoshida of Japan.
The 19-year-old Malinin also recovered from the errors in the free skating and achieved a personal-best of 314.66 points to win the title, followed by Japan's Shoma Uno and Yuma Kagiyama with 297.34 and 288.65 points respectively.
"When I came here, I was in a great mood to skate. I just trust my training and the hours that I put in. I am very excited and want to say thanks to everyone here supporting me throughout my whole program. It means a lot," Malinin said after the competition.
The American pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates collected 221.61 points to claim the victory in ice dance, sharing the podium with Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy and the Canadian pair Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier who earned 215.51 and 213.58 points respectively.
"It's a very good feeling to start your day, having little goals to look forward to and striving for bigger goals," Chock said. "Our motivation comes from our love of sports, and we share the same passion for figure skating. We have the best skating this week and will be ready for the second half of the season after the vacation."
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final will conclude on Sunday with an exhibition Gala. ■
Gold medalists Madison Chock (R)/Evan Bates of the United States celebrate after the awarding ceremony for the ice dance event at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023 in Beijing, China, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Gold medalists Madison Chock (R)/Evan Bates of the United States celebrate after the awarding ceremony for the ice dance event at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023 in Beijing, China, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Gold medalists Madison Chock (3rd R)/Evan Bates (3rd L) of the United States pose with silver medalists Charlene Guignard (1st L)/Marco Fabbri (2nd L) of Italy and Piper Gilles (1st R)/Paul Poirier of Canada during the awarding ceremony for the ice dance event at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023 in Beijing, China, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Ilia Malinin of the United States reacts during the awarding ceremony for the men's skating event at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023 in Beijing, China, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Gold medalist Ilia Malinin (C) of the United States, silver medalist Uno Shoma (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Kagiyama Yuma of Japan pose during the awarding ceremony for the men's skating event at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023 in Beijing, China, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
Sakamoto Kaori of Japan performs during the women's free skating at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023 in Beijing, China, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yanan)
