Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White glided to their 14th straight Grand Prix gold medal in ice dance, a streak that dates back to the beginning of the 2009 season, Sunday at the NHK Trophy in Japan.
The American duo, who won silver at the 2010 Vancouver Games and gold at the World Championships in 2011 and 2013, scored a 186.65, over 25 points ahead of the silver medalists, Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy.
Siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani from the U.S. were third, less that three points behind the Italian team.
“We’re very pleased with how everything went,” White told the crowd in an interview after their win. “We made a lot of improvements here at NHK. Your knowledge and appreciation means the world to us.”
It was at the World Championships in 2013 that Davis/White scored their highest ever total, a 189.56. Sunday in Tokyo they were seamless, continuing to perfect the lifts that have helped them continue the Olympic season as favorites over Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the reigning Olympic gold medalists.
“We’re really happy with our skating,” Davis said. “We’re looking forward to coming back in two weeks.”
She was referring to the Grand Prix Final, which will be held in Japan in early December. That event marks the only time Davis/White could potentially meet Virtue/Moir leading up to the Sochi Games in February. The two ice dance teams train alongside one another and share a coach in Detroit.
The Shibutanis were delighted with their free dance, which put them just two points ahead of Russia’s Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov, who ended their program with a series of dramatic spinning lifts.
Alex Shibutani let out an emphatic “Yes!” when he and Maia completed their program. Alex had fallen during their free dance, set to a Michael Jackson medley, last month at Skate America.
Skate America also saw the same three teams on the podium, though Davis/White were slightly higher with a score of 188.23.
More: Asada, Takahashi win singles crowns in TokyoIt’s 14 in a row for @Meryl_Davis and @CharlieaWhite! The World champs haven’t lost a Grand Prix since 2008. FD: 112.95 Combined: 186.65
— U.S. Figure Skating (@USFigureSkating) November 10, 2013