Chiba Triumphs Over Levito to Claim Skate Canada Victory

Mone Chiba from Japan achieved a remarkable victory at Skate Canada, outpacing local favorite Isabeau Levito. The competition took place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Saturday night, showcasing top talents in women’s figure skating.

Chiba’s Triumph Over Levito

Chiba, the 20-year-old world bronze medalist, claimed the Grand Prix gold medal with a stunning free skate performance. Her routine, set to the traditional Hungarian folk tune “Csárdás,” earned her a season-best score of 217.23 points. This marked her first gold victory after finishing as a runner-up in her previous two assignments last year.

Levito, just 18 years old and hailing from Philadelphia, mounted a strong challenge. She executed a flawless free skate based on the soundtrack of the Italian film “Cinema Paradiso,” registering a total of 209.77 points. Despite her excellent performance, it wasn’t enough to secure the gold.

• Gold medalist: Mone Chiba (Japan) – 217.23 points
• Silver medalist: Isabeau Levito (USA) – 209.77 points
• Bronze medalist: Ami Nakai (Japan) – 203.09 points

Competitive Pressure for U.S. Skaters

Levito’s silver medal is a significant achievement after her previous fourth-place finish at the Grand Prix de France. As she aims for a spot on the U.S. team for the upcoming Milano-Cortina Olympic Games, the competition becomes fierce. With reigning champion Alysa Liu and two-time champion Amber Glenn likely secure in their placements, the final spot may come down to Levito and Bradie Tennell, who placed fourth in Saskatoon with 195.07 points.

Pairs Competition Highlights

In the pairs competition, the Canadian duo of Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps celebrated their third consecutive gold at Skate Canada, thrilling the home crowd at SaskTel Centre. They secured the title with a score of 213.40 points, outpacing Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin, who finished with 207.18 points.

• Pairs gold medalists: Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps (Canada) – 213.40 points
• Pairs silver medalists: Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin (Germany) – 207.18 points
• Pairs bronze medalists: Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea (USA) – 199.11 points

Upcoming Decisions in Ice Dance and Men’s Events

The rhythm dance earlier in the evening saw Canadian world silver medalists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier take the lead, scoring 85.38 points. They are on track to defend their title, as the dance medals are set to be decided Sunday, alongside the men’s events.

In the men’s competition, two-time reigning world champion Ilia Malinin showcased his skill with a short program score of 104.84, taking a commanding lead ahead of the free skate. Kazuki Tomono of Japan trails with 92.07 points, while Estonia’s Aleksandr Selevko stands in third with 91.28 points.

The figure skating community eagerly awaits the conclusion of the events, as athletes vie for medals and qualifications for future competitions.