Japanese figure skater Kazuki Tomono impressed with his best short program performance in over three years at the opening of Skate America, leading the competition over Kevin Aymoz from France and Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov. Meanwhile, U.S. skater Jason Brown placed fifth behind Italy’s Daniel Grassl in his first Grand Prix event of the season.
In the pairs category, Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava showcased a nearly flawless routine to “Bolero,” securing a significant lead over Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara. Tomono, aiming for a spot in Japan’s Winter Olympics team, delivered a solid performance with a score of 95.77, his best since the 2022 world championships.
Aymoz, the six-time French champion, rebounded from a previous poor showing to score 93.56 points, displaying impressive jumps despite a lingering foot injury. Shaidorov, aiming for his first Grand Prix victory, faced challenges in his performance, receiving a score of 89.67.
Brown, vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, finished with 82.69 points after a routine focused on triple jumps. Despite some technical errors, Brown’s emotive performance resonated with the audience.
Metelkina and Berulava, the Russian pair representing Georgia, continued their success with a strong performance, earning a season’s best score of 78.83 points. Miura and Kihara faced difficulties with their side-by-side jump, affecting their overall score.
The competition continues with the ice dance and women’s short program, leading up to the final day of Skate America on Sunday when medals will be awarded in the men’s and pairs events.