GRENOBLE, France — In a competitive atmosphere filled with five Japanese athletes in the women’s event, Amber Glenn from the United States displayed remarkable talent at the Grand Prix Final on Thursday, finishing the short program in first place after reigning world champion Kaori Sakamoto experienced a setback.
Glenn executed the only triple axel of the competition, earning a score of 70.04 points.
However, she reported a minor injury, mentioning that she “pinched a rib” during an awkward landing after the jump, which led her to hold back on her subsequent two jumps, resulting in a reduction in points due to lower execution quality.
“Today was quite challenging for me during the competition. I wasn’t feeling my best, but I remained mentally strong and pushed through,” Glenn expressed.
Reflecting on her past struggles with anxiety, she noted, “A few years ago, I would have been overwhelmed by my anxiety, but I have made significant improvements.”
At 25 years old, Glenn is making her debut at the Grand Prix Final after an outstanding season where she secured her initial two victories in the Grand Prix series.
She is aiming to make history by becoming the first American woman to clinch the Grand Prix Final title since Alissa Czisny in 2010.
Currently, Mone Chiba is positioned in second place with a score of 69.33, performing to Donna Summer’s classic “Last Dance,” while Hana Yoshida is in third with 64.23 points.
Sakamoto, a three-time world champion, appeared poised to contend for the lead until an unfortunate fall on her final jump—a triple flip-triple toeloop combination—dropped her to fourth place with a score of 63.98.
In the pairs competition, Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin currently lead the short program with a personal best score of 76.72 as they strive to defend the Grand Prix Final title they secured last year.
They managed to skate flawlessly, gaining a slight edge of just 0.45 points over Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, following Miura’s under-rotation on a triple toeloop jump.
Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava from Georgia are holding onto third place with a score of 72.26.
The pairs event will conclude with the free skate slated for Friday.
