2025 GPF JUNIOR Women FS - KOR vs JPN Round 2

[victorskid]

Start order/results: https://results.isu.org/results/season2526/gpf2025/SEG012.htm
Warm-Up Group 1
1 Yujae KIM KOR 6 60.02
2 Yuseong KIM KOR 5 64.06
3 Sumika KANAZAWA JPN 4 66.16
4 Mayuko OKA JPN 3 67.93
5 Mei OKADA JPN 2 68.21
6 Mao SHIMADA JPN 1 73.45

ISU YouTube live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q55SgqgE9Ls

Planned Program Content, etc. can be found in the Media section on this page: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/events/eventdetail/isu-grand-prix-final-2025/

JUDGING PANEL
Referee Mr. Marco BUTTARELLI ISU
Technical Controller Ms. Susan LYNCH ISU
Technical Specialist Ms. Mamiko YAMAI ISU
Technical Specialist Mr. Konstantin KOSTIN ISU

Judge No.1 Ms. Kristina LUNDGREN USA
Judge No.2 Ms. Chihee RHEE KOR
Judge No.3 Mr. Anthony LEROY FRA
Judge No.4 Ms. Patty KLEIN CAN
Judge No.5 Ms. Salome CHIGOGIDZE GEO
Judge No.6 Mr. Nobuhiko YOSHIOKA JPN
Judge No.7 Ms. Angelika ULLM GER
Judge No.8 Ms. Yu WANG CHN
Judge No.9 Ms. Francoise de RAPPARD BEL

Data Operator Ms. Samanta KOVALKOVA ISU
Replay Operator Ms. Ranko HIRAI ISU

 

[victorskid]

We are live for the Jr Women FS.

The Victory Ceremonies for the Jr Women and Jr Men will follow the completion of the Jr Women Free Skate.

 

[skatingguy]

Yujae Kim
Rank after SP: 6
Coach: Hyungkyung Choi, Nahyun Kim, Minseok Kim
Music: The Lord of the Rings

3A
3Lz+3T
3F!
3Lo
Change Foot Combo Spin 4
3Lz+2A+2T+SEQ
2A+3Tq
3S
Flying Camel Spin 4
Choreo Sequence
Flying Change Foot Combo Spin 4

Beautiful skate - the triple Axel was so easy it looked like a double.

135.36 = 1st Place
195.38 = 1st Place

 

[Kateri]

Since reading that article on the Kim twins and learning they are not identical, I can actually tell the difference, now! Though it helps to see them both together. Yujae is that little bit more elfin - which is good for a LOTR programme, I guess.

So happy for her to skate clean and redeem herself!

 

[tangerine dream]

Great skate for Kim twin #1!

ETA: Equally great skate for Kim twin #2!

 

[tony]

Twins who say you did that? Watch what I can do. Amazing start to this segment.

 

[skatingguy]

Yuseong Kim
Rank after SP: 5
Coach: Hyungkyung Choi, Nahyun Kim, Minseok Kim
Music: Titantic (soundtrack) by James Horner

3A
3F+3T
3Lo+2T
3S
Flying Camel Spin 4
3Lo+2A+2A+SEQ
3F
3Lz!
Change Foot Combo Spin 4
Choreo Sequence
Flying Change Foot Combo Spin 4

Stunning performance - not sure about the rotation of the triple Axel, but everything else looked wonderful.

134.60 = 2nd Place
198.66 = 1st Place

 

[Kateri]

Watching the twins back to back is instructive - I think Yujae is slightly stronger across the board, the axel and combo looked cleaner, the skating skills and expression are better. Just me? Yuseong's TES was higher at the end, but I think her jumps should get a second look by the panel.

 

[her grace]

Watching the twins back to back is instructive - I think Yujae is slightly stronger across the board, the axel and combo looked cleaner, the skating skills and expression are better. Just me?

I agree with you.

Yujae wins FS, but loses overall due to SP, which is fair enough.

 

[Kateri]

At least 4/6 girls here trying triple axel! Sumika's wasn't clean, but she stood up.

 

[skatingguy]

Sumika Kanazawa
Rank after SP: 4
Coach: M. Hamada, S. Muramoto, H. Sato, H, Okamoto
Music: Peter Pan by James Newton Howard

3Lz+3T
3A<<
3S
3Lo
Flying Change Foot Combo Spin 4
3F+2T
3F+2A+2A+SEQ
Flying Camel Spin 4
Choreo Sequence
3Lz
Change Foot Combo Spin 4

Another strong skate. Axel definitely looked under, and Sumika needs some work on her spins to keep the speed throughout the difficult changes.

129.07 = 3rd Place
195.23 = 3rd Place

 

[her grace]

Kanazawa

Strong foundation with good basics, solid technique, and nice musicality. Good to attempt the 3a even though it wasn’t all around.

 

[tangerine dream]

There's something special about Kanazawa. I find her really engaging, especially for a 13 year old.

 

[her grace]

Oka

Wild on her opening 3z-3t, 3a fall, settled down for next several jumps, gutted out the 3f-2a-2a sequence, some innovative choreography and spin positions, don’t think this will be enough

 

[skatingguy]

Mayuko Oka
Rank after SP: 3
Coach: Mie Hamada, Hiroaki Sato, Satsuki Muramoto
Music: Some Bright Morning, Other Song by C. Shaw

3Lz+3T< - tight landings
3A - fall
3F
3Lo
Change Foot Combo Spin 4
3F+2Aq+2A+SEQ - turn between the double Axels
3Lz
3S+2T
Choreo Sequence
Flying Change Foot Combo Spin 4
Layback Spin 4

In a competition this strong that was not the free skate that Mayuko would have wanted. Despite the errors she has a unique style, and performance quality that make her very watchable.

-1.00 = Falls
121.70 = 4th Place
189.63 = 4th Place

 

[Kateri]

Mayuko is just not on, today. Little mistakes (and big ones).

 

[her grace]

Why Korea and Japan insist on having important domestic events (Korean ranking event and Japanese Junior Nationals) the week before the JGPF is beyond me. But at least all the competitors here are in the same boat.

 

[Kateri]

And Yuseong on the podium!

 

[Kateri]

And we're 6/6 women trying 3A! Success rates may vary.

 

[skatingguy]

Mei Okada
Rank after SP: 2
Coach: Yuko Monna, Rina Horie Rina, Haruka Oshima
Music: Miss Saigon by Claude Michel Schoenberg

3A< - fall
3F+3T
3Loq
Flying Change Foot Combo Spin 4
3S
Choreo Sequence
3Lz+2A+2A+SEQ
Layback Spin 4
3F!+2T
3Lz
Change Foot Combo Spin 4

Missed the opening jump, but then pulled things together for the rest of the elements.

-1.00 = Falls
127.61 = 4th Place
195.82 = 2nd Place

 

[her grace]

Okada

Down on 3a. So cool to see the girls going for the 3a, though so far Kims are only ones who look like they own the jump. Nice Kerrigan-esque spiral, some of her jumps look short and panel should review, nice comeback after mistake on first jump—didn’t affect the rest of the program at all

 

[Kateri]

I worry about Shimada, always trying all the tech. We've seen wunderkinds burn out physically before ever making seniors: Rika Kihira, anyone?

 

[tony]

I worry about Shimada, always trying all the tech. We've seen wunderkinds burn out physically before ever making seniors: Rika Kihira, anyone?

She's probably bored doing the same thing year after year, though. Somewhat of a trade-off of keeping the elements in muscle memory rather than having to hope for the best after body changes and learning something completely new.

And she's never lost as a junior internationally. Ever. Not going to start now. That is so wild.

 

[skatingguy]

Mao Shimada
Rank after SP: 1
Coach: Mie Hamada, Satsuki Muramoto, Hiroaki Sato
Music: Miracle by Sarah Brightman, Yoshiki

3A
4T< - fall
3Lz+3T
Flying Change Foot Combo Spin 4
3S+3T
3F+2A+2A+SEQ
3Lo
3Lz
Choreo Sequence
Layback Spin 4
Change Foot Combo Spin 4

Interesting that Mao does the quadruple toeloop attempt on a curve when her other toe jumps are done on straight lines. Good skate overall, and the triple Axel was excellent.

-1.00 = Falls
144.68 = 1st Place
218.13 = 1st Place

 

[her grace]

Shimada

Got her 3a, fall on 4t, 3z-3t with questionable entry edge, nice 3s-3t, good speed and flow across the ice, stunning spins well-timed with the music, the champion again!

 

[Lilia A]

Still undefeated. She really didn't need to try that 4T today, rather doesn't need it this season at all.

 

[Kateri]

She's probably bored doing the same thing year after year, though. Somewhat of a trade-off of keeping the elements in muscle memory rather than having to hope for the best after body changes and learning something completely new.

And she's never lost as a junior internationally. Ever. Not going to start now. That is so wild.

When did she last land the 4T, though? Not sure it's ever been fully clean.

 

[tangerine dream]

What is there to say about Shimada? I won't be surprised if she wins senior worlds next year.

 

[tony]

When did she last land the 4T, though? Not sure it's ever been fully clean.

It's completely true, but she probably just wants to push for the sake of it knowing that she has a cushion over the rest of the field.

What is there to say about Shimada? I won't be surprised if she wins senior worlds next year.

The seniors should be thankful she's not eligible this season!

 

[Kateri]

When did she last land the 4T, though? Not sure it's ever been fully clean.

@tony rhetorical question!! get out of the protocols archives!! I know she HAS done it, but really, her % on it is not great, is all I mean.