[ICE TIME] Three-Time World Champion Kaori Sakamoto Leads Japan Sweep at Skate Canada

It was a banner weekend for Japan on the Grand Prix circuit as the Hinomaru took home four of the six singles medals on offer at Skate Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Three-time world titlist Kaori Sakamoto won the gold to lead a Japan sweep in the women's event on Saturday, October 26, with Rino Matsuike taking second and Hana Yoshida third. Shun Sato picked up the silver in the men's contest behind world champion Ilia Malinin of the United States on Sunday.

Sakamoto's winning total score was 201.12 points, with Matsuike netting 192.16 and Yoshida 191.37. Switzerland's Kimmy Repond came in fourth at 191.07.

Malinin dominated his competition, tallying 301.82 in the victory, some 40 points ahead of Sato in second with 261.16. South Korea's Junhwan Cha rounded out the podium in third on 260.31, while Sota Yamamoto finished fourth at 257.00.

Sakamoto Victorious Despite Mistakes in Free Skate

Leading after the short program on Friday, October 25, Sakamoto prevailed despite falling twice in her free skate to "All That Jazz." The 24-year-old hit the ice on a planned triple salchow and a triple flip. Sakamoto only managed four clean triples in her performance but was helped by earning level fours on all of her spins. Her step sequence was a level three.

"I am happy that I was able to win but I am very disappointed with the result and with the content of my performance," Sakamoto stated. "This disappointment will be taken to heart and I hope to do better at my next event. My next event is the NHK Trophy (November 8-10), so there is not much time."

Added Sakamoto, "Once I get back home I have one week to train. So I have to hurry and intensify my training. I want to take the lessons I've learned from here and focus on free skating."

Huge Skate Canada Comeback Lands Silver for Matsuike

Despite finishing second, the 20-year-old Matsuike wowed spectators on her way to winning the free skate, vaulting from 10th place after the short program to get a medal. Competing to "Lux Aeterna," Matsuike appeared like a magical figure gliding across the ice. It was a breathtaking show that earned significant praise for her on social media.

She landed five clean triples and notched level fours on all of her spins and step sequence.

Matsuike's skating was a throwback to the days when skaters like Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill captivated the sport with their elegant performances, long before the focus on jumps took hold.

ISU announcer Chris Howarth was spellbound after watching Matsuike's free skate.

"That was a masterclass of skating skills," Howarth declared. "Forget the jumps. The jumps were brilliant anyway. Rino Matsuike's skating skills are just ridiculous!"

How did Matsuike react to her performance?

"I'm really full of happiness to make the podium," Matsuike commented. "I made some serious mistakes in the short program and my placement was such that I wasn't expecting to make the podium."

She added, "My costume had been taken off and I was at the upper level watching the other group from the stands, that's how unexpected it was for me to be on the podium."

Yoshida Settles for Bronze After Tough Free Skate

Yoshida had multiple jump issues in her free skate to "S.O.S. d'un Terrien en Detresse." The 19-year-old under-rotated her opening triple axel, had an edge call on a triple flip, was a quarter rotation short on a triple lutz, and fell on a second triple lutz. Her spins and step sequence were all level fours.

"I am happy that I get on the podium with two Japanese girls but I am quite disappointed about my skating today," Yoshida remarked. "When I finished the free skating, I wasn't thinking that I made the podium. 

"My disappointment was more about my performance not about not making the podium. When I learned I made the podium, it was more relief than happiness. I have to find a way to handle my nerves."

Malinin Takes Gold for 2nd Straight Week

The 19-year-old Malinin, who won the season-opening Skate America on October 20, was a quarter rotation short on his opening quadruple flip to "I'm Not a Vampire," but did hit a quad lutz and quad toe loop. He added seven clean triples and recorded level fours on all of his spins and step sequence.

"I'm always challenging myself. My main challenge is just being able to fight through a program start to finish," Malinin said. "Of course, my goal was to go for that quad loop here as well, but it didn't happen. I have a little more time for the [GP] Final to really make sure I can do it under pressure or when I'm doing the run-throughs so that it becomes pretty easy to do it."

Added Malinin, "It was very tough doing these two back-to-back Grands Prix and overall I am pretty satisfied with my performance and how I was able to manage this."

Sato Not Satisfied Despite Taking Silver

Sato, who was second after the short program, fell twice in his free skate to "Nostos." The 20-year-old went down on his opening quad lutz and a triple axel. He also had an edge call on a quad flip and an under-rotation on a quad toe loop. But he did land a quad toe loop/triple toe loop combination jump and five triples.

His spins were all judged as level fours, while his step sequence was a level three.

"I made some mistakes in my jumps which was disappointing," Sato said. "It is good that I was able to land the quad flip. For the short program, I was able to skate clean, which was my goal. In the free skating, my goal would have been to land the quad flip and quad lutz and I couldn't do that. Hopefully, I'll do it at my next competition."

Sato acknowledged that the gap between him and Malinin is significant.

"I feel a tremendous difference, almost like we are on different levels," Sato was quoted as telling Nikkan Sports. "However, going forward, I think he is someone I need to compete against and beat in the future. So instead of being satisfied with second place this time, I aim to win at least once in the next GP events."

Grand Prix de France Up Next

The GP circuit travels to Angers, France, this week (November 1-3) for the Grand Prix de France. Wakaba Higuchi, who won Skate America, will be joined by Mai Mihara and Rion Sumiyoshi in the women's competition, while Koshiro Shimada and Kazuki Tomono will pull on the boots in the men's battle.

Japan will not have a team entered in pairs or ice dance in Angers.

Grafstrom's Relative Schieckel Passes Away at 100

Ice Time received the sad news this week that Vera Schieckel, the stepdaughter of three-time Olympic men's champion Gillis Grafstrom of Sweden, died at the age of 100 back in May. She spoke to me for a memorable exclusive interview during the 2022 Beijing Olympics, when Yuzuru Hanyu was attempting to equal Grafstrom's record.

Schieckel was one of the last living people to have known Grafstrom, who won the gold in 1920, 1924 and 1928, but died at the age of 44 in 1938. She warmed the hearts of many Hanyu fans when she told Ice Time, "It would be really wonderful if he (Hanyu) could win again."

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Author: Jack Gallagher

The author is a veteran sports journalist and one of the world's foremost figure skating experts. Find articles and podcasts by Jack on his author page, and find him on X (formerly Twitter) @sportsjapan.