[ICE TIME] Wakaba Higuchi Finishes 2nd at GP de France to Qualify for GP Final

The resurgence of Wakaba Higuchi took another big step over the weekend of November 1-3 when she finished second at the Grand Prix de France in Angers.

Higuchi, a world silver medalist in 2018, whose career has been up and down the past several seasons, won the season-opening Skate America in October and clinched a spot in the prestigious six-skater Grand Prix Final in December in Grenoble, France, with her result on Saturday, November 2.

The Tokyo native finished second in Angers behind American Amber Glenn. Glenn's winning total score was 210.44 points, while Higuchi tallied 206.08. Rion Sumiyoshi took third for the second consecutive year at 201.35.

Mai Mihara finished seventh with 174.93.

France's Adam Siao Him Fa won his home country's GP for the third year in a row in the men's event with a mark of 246.58. Siao Him Fa rallied from eighth place after the short program to take the gold. Koshiro Shimada claimed the silver on 233.84, while Andrew Torgashev of the United States got the bronze with 233.64.

Kazuki Tomono came in fifth at 231.48.

Milestone Win for Glenn

Glenn, the American champion in the 2023-24 season, landed six clean triples on the way to victory. The 25-year-old fell on a triple flip midway through her free skate to "I Will Find You The Return." She notched level fours on two of her spins in achieving the first GP win of her career.

"I still don't believe it. It is crazy but very good," Glenn stated. "Coming in today I was very nervous. It was my first time being in first place at a major event in a short program and there was a lot happening, a lot of excitement. For me, it was, 'Oh I did another program,' so it was very odd and had a lot of emotions."

Added Glenn, "I made a lot of small mistakes today that caused the fall on the flip and the hands down and that was due to both fatigue and just self-doubt." 

Higuchi Returning to GP Final After a 7-Year Absence

The 23-year-old Higuchi, who took off the 2022-23 season to relax and recover from years of competitions, skated to "Nature Boy" and "Running Up That Hill" in her free skate and landed four clean triples. She was judged one quarter rotation short on two jumps (a triple loop and a triple salchow), but earned level fours on all of her spins.

"This result means one more competition for me," noted Higuchi, who was sixth at the 2017 GP Final. "And a lot of traveling, I will have to adjust but I am looking forward to it. I tried to focus on doing my performance like usual and not think too much about the result."

Added Higuchi, "I didn't make any big mistakes in my jumps but I wanted to give everything I had in my last steps. But I felt a bit tired going into them, so I think I could have done a bit more in my last steps."

Bronze Again for Sumiyoshi in France

Sumiyoshi's third-place showing keeps her in the running for a berth in the GP Final. The 21-year-old competed to" Adiemus: Song of Sanctuary" in her free skate and hit five clean triples but saw her quadruple toe loop downgraded. She posted level fours on all of her spins and step sequence.

"Today, I really felt like I was able to see around, look at the people. I felt quite good with my physical shape too," Sumiyoshi stated. "More than getting in the zone, I felt like everything was under control. This gave me a kind of good spirit to skate. 

"As for the quad, I was not really feeling it, so I think I still did my best in a way and I accept the result. Overall, my skate today is what I was aiming to do."

Home Favorite Comes Through with Clutch Free Skate

Siao Him Fa charged back from eighth place after the short program on Friday, November 1 to top the podium with his free skate to the soundtrack from "Dune." The 23-year-old hit two quads and five triples in the triumph while registering level fours on two of his spins.

"I put too much pressure on myself in the short program," Siao Him Fa commented on Saturday. "It's only my second competition since I came back from my [ankle] injury and I had just five weeks of preparation, which is not much. After the short program, I took this competition as a practice and I got off all the pressure I had so I felt better."

Significant Result for Shimada

Shimada captured his first GP medal with his free skate routine to "Danse Macabre." The 23-year-old successfully landed a quad toe loop and six triples on the way to the silver and posted level fours on all of his spins.

"First of all I still can't believe that I'm talking here [at the press conference]. I'm so happy," Shimada remarked. "We never know what will happen at the competition and I trusted myself in the short program and long program. 

"I kept saying, 'Today is my day' and then it happened. In my career, I have never had such a beautiful experience."

NHK Trophy is the Next Grand Prix Event on Tap

The GP circuit will travel to Tokyo this week (Friday through Sunday, November 8-10) for the fourth stop of the season. Beijing Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama will headline the men's field along with Kao Miura and Tatsuya Tsuboi. Meanwhile, three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto features in the women's event along with Mone Chiba and Yuna Aoki.

Familiar names in the men's battle will include 2019 world junior champion Tomoki Hiwatashi, American Jason Brown and Italy's Matteo Rizzo.

Former US champions Alysa Liu and Bradie Tennell are set to take the ice in the women's contest.

Pairs Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, the 2023 world titlists, will be joined by Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi in the competition.

Japan will have two ice dance teams entered in Tokyo, with Utana Yoshida and Masaya Morita, and Azusa Tanaka and Shingo Nishiyama.

Valieva Eyes Comeback After Ban Ends

Russia's Kamila Valieva, currently serving a four-year suspension for doping, was quoted in a recent interview with RSport as saying she is considering a comeback when the ban ends on December 25, 2025.

"Of course, there are thoughts [about returning to sports]," the 18-year-old Valieva commented, according to an English translation posted on fs-gossips.com.

"It's not definitive; my last performance was not the most successful and certainly not the best for me," she said, referring to the Russian Nationals. "So, giving up a sports career at such a young age would probably be foolish."

Added Valieva, "I will make every effort to once again delight viewers, myself, coaches, and, of course, all the fans."

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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.