2026-27 Junior Grand Prix - General Discussion

[spin2win]

Japan only entered 1 man not using their quota, I wonder why

 

[eusebius]

Looking forward to see what Ted Barton does with 15 Polina DZSUMANYIJAZOVA HUN

 

[Capt. DeSoto]

Japan only entered 1 man not using their quota, I wonder why

It looks like they're in a situation with 5 or 6 guys for 14 spots, so, they're just letting it go unused.

 

[her grace]

Latvia has a great women's line-up, both in terms of talent and who I like!

Bath, Goidina, Sinisalo, Wang, Ghezzo, Okada, Lautowa-Peguero, etc.

 

[Karen-W]

Japan only entered 1 man not using their quota, I wonder why

It looks like they're in a situation with 5 or 6 guys for 14 spots, so, they're just letting it go unused.

They did the same last year. They didn't have enough men that they felt deserved JGP assignments, so they left some spots unfilled. It was annoying last year because all three of the countries with 2 entries for each JGP held onto those spots (for the most part) and didn't release them in time for the countries only guaranteed 1 entry per JGP to pick up additional entries.

Last season - Japan used 12 of 14 entries; Korea used 8 of 14 entries; Slovakia used 4 of 14 entries. The USA picked up 4 additional entries from the 7 initially earned (some of those came from EST, NZL & SWE not using all of their earned entries, IIRC).

I'm sure it won't matter to either NZL or BEL, but GER may care that they aren't getting additional entries which they would likely use (they used all 7 of their spots earned last season).

I also noted that GEO did not enter a woman for this JGP (they don't have more than 2 or 3 jr age women, IIRC), and it's a shame that, like Japan, they didn't return the unused spot to be reallocated as I'm sure CHN or KOR would have loved a 2nd spot.

 

[Sylvia]

Looking forward to see what Ted Barton does with 15 Polina DZSUMANYIJAZOVA HUN

Just for fun I checked her older JGP videos... Mark H. struggled with her name at her first JGP in 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZL2KQF0sUs
Ted just used "Polina" in 2022 and tried saying her name in 2023 (he got better by last season ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZl7jG-xOpI

 

[Sylvia]

USFS has published their selections for JGP #3 in Bangkok, Thailand on their International Assignments page:
Louis Mallane, Hitonari Tani; Effie Chen/Gordei Chitipakhovian & Grace Fischer/Luke Fischer in dance.

 

[coralline]

USFS has published their selections for JGP #3 in Bangkok, Thailand on their International Assignments page:
Louis Mallane, Hitonari Tani; Effie Chen/Gordei Chitipakhovian & Grace Fischer/Luke Fischer in dance.

So A/V have decided to avoid Fefelova & Valov，smart choice.

 

[Karen-W]

So A/V have decided to avoid Fefelova & Valov，smart choice.

Doubt that they're scared of the top Russian team seeing as they're the reigning JWC. It's more likely a matter of the USFS choosing to give them more time to prepare for their first JGP of the season.

 

[coralline]

USFS has published their selections for JGP #3 in Bangkok, Thailand on their International Assignments page:
Louis Mallane, Hitonari Tani; Effie Chen/Gordei Chitipakhovian & Grace Fischer/Luke Fischer in dance.

These assignments may not be the final decision...

 

[haribobo]

I am not sure why those wouldn't be the final assignments- both those men finished pretty high at Junior Cup and C/C have been in the top 3 US dance finishers & scorers so far this season... Fischers have also done well so I would expect those assignments to hold.

 

[coralline]

Doubt that they're scared of the top Russian team seeing as they're the reigning JWC. It's more likely a matter of the USFS choosing to give them more time to prepare for their first JGP of the season.

Oh I don't think AV need to be scared of Fefelova & Valov. Fun Fact is Daniil Veselukhin was the partner of Fefelova's elder sister back in Russia. So they've certainly known each other well.

 

[Stephanie]

Bangkok dance assignments have changed to Stapert/Korotcov and Kouevi/Homawoo on the USFS page

 

[coralline]

Bangkok dance assignments have changed to Stapert/Korotcov and Kouevi/Homawoo on the USFS page

That aligns with the information I heard.
And Kouevi/Homawoo are no longer in WISA. After Pierre Souquet-Basiege and Lorraine got married they started their own business. Kouevi/Homawoo are with them now.

 

[coralline]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbfywljMjsP/?igsh=ajAwM29pa2lmdndy

According to 1TV interview, Fefelova/Valov also skate to a tango+waltz in RD. Their waltz part seems to be Carol of the Bell.

 

[Sylvia]

According to 1TV interview, Fefelova/Valov also skate to a tango+waltz in RD.

Thanks! @spin2win has compiled links to watch some of the Junior test skates in the Russian skating news thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ating-news-in-2026.113547/page-7#post-6943704

Noted on Monday:

Shiqi Gao was swapped out for Chen Xi Jin

JGP Xi'an Junior Women's entries: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skat...nior-grand-prix-xian-city-2026/?type=11817708
I posted a video of Chen Xi JIN in the Chinese news thread (many more videos from recent competitions can be found there): https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/chinese-skating-news-pt-6-2026-beyond.113977/#post-6943082

 

[Belsornia]

According to 1TV interview, Fefelova/Valov also skate to a tango+waltz in RD. Their waltz part seems to be Carol of the Bell.

Well, that’s a choice for a Russian neutral athletes team.

 

[coralline]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbgICj2sT_y/?igsh=d24xMWlueGQ0ZnEx

FD clips of Fefelova / Valov. They have some unique dance spin positions and lifts.

 

[denshagar]

Well, that’s a choice for a Russian neutral athletes team.

Whoa a Russian team skating to Ukrainian music?

 

[Capt. DeSoto]

Whoa a Russian team skating to Ukrainian music?

Not to get too political, but they could be doing it as an explicit expression of "cultural appropriation". A "we own you" mindset / message. Or it could be innocent appreciation. Hard to say, but hard to ignore the potential for a political message.

 

[Sylvia]

Switzerland's ice dance team of Leonie Woodtli & Timon David Suhner have announced they will travel for their 2nd JGP season to #4 Ankara TUR and #7 Gdansk POL:

Leonie WOODTLI & Timon SUHNER on Instagram: "We are pleased to announce that we have received two Junior Grand Prix assignments for the upcoming season in Ankara 🇹🇷 and Gdańsk 🇵🇱. These international competitions will be the start of our 2026/27 sea

leonie.timon_icedance on August 2, 2026: "We are pleased to announce that we have received two Junior Grand Prix assignments for the upcoming season in Ankara 🇹🇷 and Gdańsk 🇵🇱. These international competitions will be the start of our 2026/27 season. Over the coming weeks, we will continue to...

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

JGP #3 in Bangkok, Thailand - entries as of August 4: https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/entries/isu-jgp-bangkok-2026/

JUNIOR MEN
No Name Nation
1 Vasil BARAKHOUSKI AIN1
Pavel GAVDIS S
Heorhi KAZLOUSKI S
2 Lev LAZAREV AIN2
Arsenii FEDOTOV S
3 James LIN AUS
Vinceman CHONG S
Kryshtof PRADEAUX S
Rahul RAVINDRAN S
4 Colton MONESS CAN
James CHA S
William CHAN S
Alexander GE S
Ethan LUO S
Rui QIN S
Liam SCHMIDT S
Travis TRANG S
Bowen YAN S
5 Yihe SUN CHN
Zhuo Lang LI S
6 Romulus PELTONEN FIN
Benjamin ERIKSSON S
Anton ERKAMA S
Matias HEINONEN S
Henri MOISIO S
Venni PITKO S
7 Lloyd THOMSON GBR
Callum GILCHRIST S
Lewis MACDONALD S
Edward SOLOVYOV S
8 Soner OEZTUERK GER
Michelangelo CAPRANO S
Leon ROJKOV S
Robert WILDT S
Felix Haoyu ZENG S
9 Simon SUN HKG
Jarvis HO S
Jiarui LI S
Zihao Harvey ZHOU S
10 Igor Gyula KIND HUN
11 Rafif Herfianto PUTRA INA
12 Haseesh MERUGUPALA IND
13 Kirill SHEIKO ISR
Nikita SHEIKO S
Matvey SOKOLOV S
14 Taiga NISHINO JPN
15 Shun UEMURA JPN
Daiya EBIHARA S
Hayato OKAZAKI S
Sena TAKAHASHI S
16 Yeraly SHAKHIMURAT KAZ
Nikita KOZLOV S
Artur SMAGULOV S
17 Jaewook CHUNG KOR
18 Aaron KIM KOR
Habin CHOI S
Gyujin HWANG S
Yesung KIM S
Jaekeun LEE S
19 Jia Hao LAI MAS
Jayden Ye Hung TIN S
20 Yanhao LI NZL
21 Gion SCHMID SUI
Sandro DE ANGELO S
Ean WEILER S
22 Chawawit JIAMAHASUP THA
23 Hiro KAEWTATHIP THA
24 Tharon WARASITTICHAI THA
25 Wei Te JUAN TPE
26 Louis MALLANE USA
27 Hitonari TANI USA
Ryan William AZADPOUR S
Patrick BLACKWELL S
Caleb FARRINGTON S
Isaac FULTON S
Henry GAO S
Kirk HAUGETO S
Daniel KOPPEL S
Zachary LOPINTO S
Evan NEUHAUS S
Marlo ROSEN S
Ryedin RUDE-DENMAN S
Vaclav VASQUEZ S
28 Hoang Huu NGUYEN VIE

JUNIOR WOMEN
No Name Nation
1 Varvara STAHOVICH AIN1
Mariya EVTUKHINA S
Yaraslava KNIAZEVA S
2 Elena KOSTYLEVA AIN2
Sofiia DZEPKA S
Viktoriia STRELTSOVA S
3 Amber FU AUS
4 Isabella WANG AUS
Hana BATH S
Ann KYLE S
Kalyn SHIMOGAKI S
5 Hannah FRANK AUT
Teresa Naia EDER S
Eles NAMAZALIEVA S
Iris UMUNDUM S
Nathalie YONEMORI S
Victoria YONEMORI S
6 Lia CHO CAN
Victoria BARAKHTINA S
Uxia GONZALEZ-ABRALDES S
Gabrielle JUGNAUTH S
Ksenia KROUZKEVITCH S
Lulu LIN S
Reese ROSE S
Aleksa VOLKOVA S
7 Alicia Rocio MENCHACA-LILLO CHI
8 Yun Xi FAN CHN
Shiqi GAO S
Shuxian JIN S
9 Ana Belen VELEZ BURBANO ECU
Jana GUFLER S
10 Lotta ARTIMO FIN
Annika PELLONMAA S
Pinja PELTOLA S
Venla SINISALO S
Darja TRUBITSON S
Saaga VOLKOVA S
11 Mia CRAIG GBR
Lilian MUSGRAVE S
Alice SMITH S
Arina VOROBEVA S
Jessica WORTH S
12 Amaliia NASYBULLINA GEO
13 Yeuk Kwan ZHU HKG
Tze Yan Valerie CHAN S
Chloe Desiree LEUNG S
Yun XUE S
14 Zsofia SZEPLAKI HUN
Polina DZSUMANYIJAZOVA S
Greta Norina MAJOR S
Martina Petra MAJOR S
Hanna Laura VIRANYI S
15 Nathania Kinarizzah INSYIRAH INA
16 Abrysha SRIVASTAVA IND
17 Elin Katla SVEINBJORNSDOTTIR ISL
Saedis Heba GUDMUNDSDOTTIR S
18 Sophia SHIFRIN ISR
19 Simona TKACHMAN ISR
Elizabeth BALONOV S
Anastasia FREIFELD S
Talia GEFTAR S
Izabella KIRILLOVA S
Nikol KUPERMAN S
Shahaf PINCHAS S
Shaked PINCHAS S
Anna VALIK S
20 Sumika KANAZAWA JPN
21 Rena UEZONO JPN
Karin MIYAZAKI S
Mayuko OKA S
Mei OKADA S
Kaoruko WADA S
Kei YAMADA S
22 Mariya SOSNOVSKAYA KAZ
Safiya ABAYEVA S
23 Jiyu HUH KOR
Jeongyul HWANG S
Nayeon KO S
Hyowon LEE S
24 Zofia Zhuo Yiing KONG MAS
Chloe Xin Yao NG S
25 Tselmeg MUNKHTSEDEN MGL
26 Pernille WITH NOR
Thea Marie Kochergina ULLERENG S
27 Renee TSAI NZL
Ziyao WU S
28 Hayden Isabel BALUCATING PHI
Celine Isabelle TANSIPEK S
29 Joyce Yue En YANG SGP
Jiayuxin LIN S
Vianna Shen-Rou LINKE S
30 Ula ZADNIKAR SLO
Polina BYKOVA S
Lucka FORTUNA S
Zala GRUM S
Klara JEVNIK S
Vita KAS S
Aria Lusa KOGOVSEK S
Lija KROSELJ S
Luna ROZMAN S
Anna SERGIENKO S
31 Leandra TZIMPOUKAKIS SUI
Elisabeth DIBBERN S
Valeriya EZHOVA S
32 Olivia LENGYELOVA SVK
Alica LENGYELOVA S
33 Thanapa CHUMPOLKOOLVONG THA
34 Phattaratida KANESHIGE THA
35 Sirinatthaya MAHITTIVANICHA THA
Angela Urvashi NORIN S
Prim SOBHANAVSU S
Pasuree Marcella TATIRAT S
36 Hsiang-YU CHAN TPE
37 Evgeniia NIKOLAEVA UAE
Marie BIERWERT S
Sara BIN KARAM S
Marina MAKARENKO S

JUNIOR ICE DANCE
No Name Nation
1 Olga GRABOVSKAYA / Yaraslau SYTSIK AIN1
Varvara RAUHEN / Mikhail PRUSIANKOU S
2 Mariia FEFELOVA / Artem VALOV AIN2
Daria DROZHZHINA / Ivan TELNOV S
3 Chanelle CHUM / Osckar CHUM AUS
4 Chaima BEN KHELIFA / Julien LEVESQUE CAN [new]
5 Madelaine Ann BREAU / Kurtis CHE CAN
Charlie ANDERSON / Cayden DAWSON S
Laurence BRIERE / Earl Jesse CELESTINO S [new]
Victoria CARANDIUC / Andrei CARANDIUC S
Summer HOMICK / Nicholas BUELOW S
6 Zhixuan LI / Quanshuo GE CHN
7 Eleonore GABET / Raphael DUCLUSAUD FRA
8 Lea HIENNE / Louis VARESCON FRA
Alexandra BALYAN / Nikolai BALABARDIN S [new]
Rose Anne Marie BORDET / Hugo TOMAS S
Louise COHAS-BOGEY / Daniil GRISHIN S
Angelina CUCHERAT / Leopold HERNANDEZ-DACQUIN S
Siloe Nayeli Claire DESBOIS-RENAUDIN / Enzo TOMAS S
Emi DUFOUR / Juan Carlos MARAVILLA S [new]
Lou-Bella LEMAIRE / Mael QUINQUIS S
Kira LISTKOVA / Tahory TADDEI-DUGUE S
Dania MOUADEN / Theo BIGOT S
Ambre PERRIER GIANESINI / Samuel BLANC KLAPERMAN S
Emilie PROULX / Morgan LALIBERTE LAURENT S
Romy REVERCHON / Victor DI MUZIO S
9 Ashlie SLATTER / Louis GREGORY GBR
Annabel MANN / Jack HAMMOND S
Mimi MARLER DAVIES / Joseph BLACK S
10 Dessie Abigail HOEWING-MOXLEY / Artyom SLADKOV GER [new]
Mia-Luisa GIBBESCH / Lias LUFT S
Darya GRIMM / Grigorii RODIN S [1st int'l season]
Eniko KOBOR / Zoard KOBOR S
Alexia KRUK / Jan EISENHABER S
Warunya Katharina SALENBAUCH / Paiboon Hermann SALENBAUCH S
11 Yuxuan XING / Han Wan CHAU HKG
12 Villo Mira SZILAGYI / Istvan JARACS HUN
Diane GALLIX / Elod EGYED-ZSIGMOND S
Aletta LANYI / Ilya LAURENAU S [new]
Lena ZERINVARY-SIMON / Huba GALLAI S [new]
13 Zoe BIANCHI / Daniel BASILE ITA
Laura FINELLI / Tommaso BARISON S [new]
Martina LAVAZZA / Raphael Raymond MEUNIER S
14 Ayumi SHIBAYAMA / Tomoki KIMURA JPN
15 Inkyong PARK / Andrew SONG KOR [new]
Leina YOU / Henrick CHAN S [new]
16 Seraina TSCHARNER / Laurin WIEDERKEHR SUI
17 Anaelle KOUEVI / Yann HOMAWOO USA
18 Annelise STAPERT / Maxim KOROTCOV USA
Hana Maria ABOIAN / Daniil VESELUKHIN S
Jane CALHOUN / Mark ZHELTYSHEV S
Marian CARHART / Denis BLEDSOE S
Sophia FEIGE / Wiles MIDDLEKAUFF S
Grace FISCHER / Luke FISCHER S
Clara FUGATE / Warren FUGATE S
Rylen LUKANIN / Patrick O'BRIEN S
Aneta VACLAVIKOVA / William LISSAUER S [1st int'l season]

S = Substitute
*AIN 1 : Skaters affiliated with ISU Members in Belarus
*AIN 2 : Skaters affiliated with ISU Members in Russia

 

[Sylvia]

Since we're not going to see the Ankara JGP entries until the week of Aug. 17th, maybe we can discuss who we think will be the main contenders on the JGP? Starting with these posts today in the U.S. Ice Dance & Russian news threads:

Based on the Fefalova RD posted in the Russian thread, Abo/Ves have nothing to worry about.

https://youtu.be/5EHXqtY6_Jg?si=1GfAFZknh5QsgYsD
Fefelova & Valov´s RD
V for Vivaldi, Carol of the Bells

They have some WOW moments, like the entry into their TWs, but it's so difficult that may jeopardize their stability. Also ending with the pattern dance may seem a little bit down in choreography.

Grimm & Rodin are the ones to watch now. They are more mature in this junior field. But we have to wait and see what material Zanni have given them.

I’d also keep my eye on France’s PG/BK. While finishing second to A/V at both JGP Final and Jr. Worlds, they closed the gap in the margin of victory from 7 to 2 points.

In general, I’d say USA politiks are stronger than France and Germany, and A/V have the best reputation on the junior circuit so they’re favorites. But these other teams could beat them.

Or you can share which skaters/teams you're really looking forward to watching!

 

[Karen-W]

Conventional wisdom is that Fefelova/Valov and Italy's Bianchi/Basile will go 1-2 in some order at both JGP China & Thailand. We'll see soon!

 

[ndyelimbs]

Conventional wisdom is that Fefelova/Valov and Italy's Bianchi/Basile will go 1-2 in some order at both JGP China & Thailand. We'll see soon!

That’ll take them to the JGPF easily.

 

[ndyelimbs]

Since we're not going to see the Ankara JGP entries until the week of Aug. 17th, maybe we can discuss who we think will be the main contenders on the JGP? Starting with these posts today in the U.S. Ice Dance & Russian news threads:




Or you can share which skaters/teams you're really looking forward to watching!

Are we counting out Daniia and Theo? They made the JGPFs last year

 

[Karen-W]

Are we counting out Daniia and Theo? They made the JGPFs last year

Not at all. I think they're the likely gold medalists at JGP Latvia but Vaclavikova/Lissauer could be a surprise challenger.

 

[her grace]

I’m looking forward to watching Canada’s Lia Cho on the JGP. I’ve read a lot about her for years—excited for her debut. And I want Australia’s Bath to win everything!

The USA’s Farrington was a revelation last season. Looking forward to seeing his artistic presence again. Belgium’s Krouglov also stood out with his smooth basic skating skills.

I’m rooting for, like, every dance team. Of the lesser knowns, Canada’s Anderson/Dawson stood out to me last season with their sure technique and presentation that created a mood. I also liked Ukraine’s Bielodonova/Kachur at Junior Worlds: some lively spunk!

 

[her grace]

Conventional wisdom is that Fefelova/Valov and Italy's Bianchi/Basile will go 1-2 in some order at both JGP China & Thailand. We'll see soon!

Hienne/Varescon should be in the mix in Thailand, too.

 

[Sylvia]

Golden Skate articles in 2026:

Lia Cho (July 29) - her long-awaited JGP debut will be in Bangkok:

NextGen champion Lia Cho ready for junior international debut

NextGen Champion Lia Cho Ready for Junior International Debut Lia Cho opened the new season with a victory at NextGen and now turns her attention to her

www.goldenskate.com

Yanhao Li (July 25) - assigned to Xi'an & Bangkok:

Yanhao Li carves path for figure skating in New Zealand

Yanhao Li carves path for figure skating in New Zealand Yanhao Li of New Zealand enters the 2026–27 figure skating season with clear goals on both the

www.goldenskate.com

Valeriya Ezhova (June 14) - assigned to Riga:

Valeriya Ezhova: A rising talent for Switzerland

Switzerland’s new talent Valeriya Ezhova Valeriya Ezhova has quickly established herself as one of Switzerland's most promising young skaters. In a

www.goldenskate.com

Sophia Shifrin (May 10) - scheduled for Bangkok as her 1st JGP:

Sophia Shifrin builds on breakthrough season

Sophia Shifrin Looks Ahead After a Breakthrough Year Israel’s Sophia Shifrin continues to rise on the junior international figure skating scene. After

www.goldenskate.com

Denis Krouglov (May 3):

Denis Krouglov aims to continue Belgium’s rise in figure skating

Denis Krouglov aims to continue Belgium’s rise in figure skating Krouglov looks to follow Belgium’s skating legacy Denis Krouglov is aiming to become

www.goldenskate.com