Japan's Mone Chiba emerged as the surprise leader in the women's short program at the figure skating Grand Prix Final after favorites stumbled on Friday. Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto finished fifth following costly errors.
At the Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan's Mone Chiba took the lead in the women's short program with 77.27 points. Skating last and seizing the opportunity, Chiba landed a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a double axel, and a triple lutz despite initial nerves. "I was very nervous at the start," Chiba said. "But I was able to land all three jumps and do my spins and steps so I feel good about my skate."
World champion Alysa Liu of the United States placed second with 75.79 points, followed by Japan's Ami Nakai in third with 73.91. Liu executed a triple flip, double axel, and triple lutz-triple loop combination, stating, "I had a goal going into the short program to do a better triple loop than my other companions and to breathe throughout."
Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto managed only a double lutz on her opening jump, finishing fifth with 69.40 points. Emotional and set to retire after this season, Sakamoto said, "More than feeling the pressure, I feel like I defeated myself. I will go into the free program tomorrow with nothing to lose." Defending champion Amber Glenn fell to sixth with 66.85 points after a single axel instead of a triple.
Friday's results highlight the lack of a clear favorite ahead of the February Milan Cortina Olympics. The International Skating Union has allowed Russian skaters to compete as neutrals in men's and women's events, including 18-year-old Adeliia Petrosian, who has landed triple axels and quads consistently this year.
In pairs, Japan's world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won gold with 225.21 points despite errors. "We tried not to think too much about winning the title," Kihara said. "Our coach told us just try to stay true to our program." Italians Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii took silver with 223.28 points, while Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin earned bronze with 221.25. The men's and women's free skates are scheduled for Saturday.