Mone Chiba Triumphs at Skate Canada, Levito Takes Silver

Mone Chiba of Japan secured victory at Skate Canada on November 4, 2023, after a spectacular free skate performance that outshone American skater Isabeau Levito. Competing in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Chiba posted a season-best score of 217.23 points, marking her first Grand Prix gold medal after two runner-up finishes last year.

Chiba, a 20-year-old world bronze medalist, entered the free skate with a narrow lead over Levito. The 18-year-old from Philadelphia delivered an impressive routine to music from the Italian film “Cinema Paradiso,” landing all seven of her jumps with remarkable precision. Levito’s total score reached 209.77 points, earning her a silver medal following a fourth-place finish in her previous event in France.

With the competition for places on the U.S. team for the upcoming Milano-Cortina Olympic Games heating up, Levito’s strong performance positions her well. However, she faces stiff competition from reigning world champion Alysa Liu and two-time defending U.S. champion Amber Glenn, both of whom are nearly assured spots. The final position could come down to Levito and Bradie Tennell, who finished fourth at Skate Canada with a score of 195.07 points.

Canadian Pairs Team Shines at Home

In the pairs competition, Canadian duo Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps captivated the audience at SaskTel Centre by clinching their third consecutive Skate Canada gold medal. They scored 213.40 points to secure their victory over German pair Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin, who finished with 207.18 points. Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea of the United States rounded out the podium in third place with a score of 199.11 points.

Hase and Volodin, who are the reigning Grand Prix Final champions and world silver medalists, initially led after the short program. However, they faced challenges during their free skate, which included falls on both a side-by-side triple toe loop and a throw-triple flip.

Earlier in the evening, Canadian world silver medalists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier initiated their quest for a sixth consecutive Skate Canada title by winning the rhythm dance with a score of 85.38 points. Lithuanian duo Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius secured second place with 80.89 points, while American team Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko claimed third with 76.83 points. The dance medals will be awarded following the free dance scheduled for Sunday.

The men’s title will also be determined on Sunday, with two-time reigning world champion Ilia Malinin taking a commanding lead after scoring 104.84 points in his short program. Kazuki Tomono of Japan trails with a score of 92.07 points, while Aleksandr Selevko of Estonia stands in third place with 91.28 points.

As the competition continues, the performances at Skate Canada highlight the rising talent and intense rivalries within figure skating, setting the stage for an exciting Olympic season ahead.