Chiba Triumphs Over Levito to Clinch Skate Canada Victory
In a thrilling finale at Skate Canada, Mone Chiba of Japan emerged victorious over American skater Isabeau Levito, achieving a remarkable performance. This event took place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where Chiba showcased her skills on Saturday night.
Chiba Clinches Skate Canada Victory
The 20-year-old Chiba, who is also a world bronze medalist, delivered a near-perfect free skate. She performed to the lively tunes of “Csárdás,” a traditional Hungarian folk dance. Her excellence earned her a season-best score of 217.23 points, securing the Grand Prix gold medal at her first attempt after finishing as a runner-up in previous events.
Levito’s Impressive Free Skate
Despite Chiba’s strong lead, 18-year-old Isabeau Levito from Philadelphia delivered a commendable performance. She completed her routine set to “Cinema Paradiso” flawlessly, landing all seven jumping passes with grace. Levito finished with a score of 209.77 points, earning her a silver medal.
- Mone Chiba: 217.23 points (Gold Medal)
- Isabeau Levito: 209.77 points (Silver Medal)
- Ami Nakai: 203.09 points (Bronze Medal)
Levito’s performance in Saskatoon followed a fourth-place finish at the Grand Prix de France. As the reigning world silver medalist, she is vying for one of three spots on the U.S. team for the upcoming Milano-Cortina Olympic Games. With two spots likely going to world champion Alysa Liu and two-time U.S. champion Amber Glenn, the competition for the remaining spot is intense.
Canadian Success in Pairs Competition
In pairs skating, the Canadian duo of Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps delighted the home crowd by clinching their third consecutive Skate Canada gold medal. They achieved an impressive score of 213.40 points, overcoming their German rivals Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin, who scored 207.18 points.
- Stellato-Dudek & Deschamps: 213.40 points (Gold Medal)
- Hase & Volodin: 207.18 points (Silver Medal)
- Kam & O’Shea: 199.11 points (Bronze Medal)
Earlier in the evening, Canadian ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier set the stage for their sixth consecutive Skate Canada title by winning the rhythm dance with 85.38 points. The competitive atmosphere continues as the free dance and men’s titles will be finalized on Sunday.
Men’s Event Preview
The men’s short program saw two-time reigning world champion Ilia Malinin score 104.84 points, leading the competition. His closest competitor, Kazuki Tomono from Japan, trailed with 92.07 points, while Estonia’s Aleksandr Selevko secured third with 91.28 points.
The stage is now set for an exciting conclusion to Skate Canada, with final placements in both ice dance and men’s events expected to deliver captivating performances.
