The short program standings will act as final results for the Trophée Bompard Grand Prix figure skating competition in Bordeaux, France, the International Skating Union announced. Instead of the six-skater Grand Prix Final in Barcelona Dec. 10-13, the ISU has allowed for a seventh skater (or pair / ice dance couple) to participate in the final under specific circumstances. The free programs were canceled due to the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris.
If skaters who participated in Trophée Bompard are in seventh place after next weekend’s final Grand Prix event, NHK Trophy, they will be invited to the Grand Prix Final. Otherwise, the competition will be limited to six skaters if the seventh place athlete was not a Trophée Bompard participant.
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Gracie Gold, who lead the ladies field after the short program, clinched a berth into the Grand Prix Final with this adjustment. She also qualified into last year’s field, but withdrew due to a stress fracture in her left foot.
Ashley Wagner and Japan’s Mao Asada are slated to skate at the NHK Trophy in Japan. Both of them have the opportunity to bump reigning Russian world champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva from the final.
Other Russians, like Julia Lipnitskaya, are still in the hunt for the final. Lipnitskaya is an interesting case, however; if she is bumped to seventh place in the overall standings, she will be invited to the Grand Prix Final because of her participation in Trophée Bompard.
On the men’s side, Max Aaron mimics Lipnitskaya’s position. He is currently sixth, without the results of this weekend’s NHK Trophy included in the standings. Again, if he is bumped to seventh, the men’s field will include Aaron and six other skaters because of his participation in Trophée Bompard.
Other men included in the Grand Prix Final field are reigning world champion Javier Fernandez, who clinched his spot by winning last weekend’s Rostelecom Cup, while appearances by Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu and Olympic silver medalist Patrick Chan seem likely. Hanyu will compete this weekend at NHK Trophy in Japan.
Top ladies Grand Prix season scores
1. Yelena Radionova (RUS) — 211.32 (Rostelecom Cup)
2. Yevgenia Medvedeva (RUS) — 206.76 (Rostelecom Cup)
3. Yevgenia Medvedeva (RUS) — 206.01 (Skate America)
4. Gracie Gold (USA) — 202.80 (Skate America)
5. Ashley Wagner (USA) — 202.52 (Skate Canada)
6. Mao Asada (JPN) — 197.48 (Cup of China)
7. Rika Hongo (JPN) — 195.76 (Cup of China)
8. Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS) — 188.99 (Skate Canada)
9. Satoko Miyahara (JPN) — 188.07 (Skate America)
Top men’s Grand Prix season scores
1. Javier Fernandez (ESP) — 271.43 (Rostelecom Cup)
2. Patrick Chan (CAN) — 271.14 (Skate Canada)
3. Javier Fernandez (ESP) — 270.55 (Cup of China)
4. Jin Boyang (CHN) — 261.23 (Cup of China)
5. Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) — 259.54 (Skate Canada)
6. Max Aaron (USA) — 258.95 (Skate America)
7. Shoma Uno (JPN) — 257.43 (Skate America)
8. Daisuke Murakami (JPN) — 252.25 (Skate Canada)