Sparkle and Score: A Look on the Ice
We love it when new events are upon us and are excited to shift into something more unique this week. The ISU (International Skating Union) World Team Trophy Event has officially begun! This tournament features the top six teams: USA, Japan, Italy, France, Canada, and Georgia, and takes place in Tokyo, Japan. Each team sends two men, two women, one pairs team, and one ice dance team to compete.
On day one, we've already seen impressive jumps, spins, footwork… and, of course, skating attire. Let’s look at some skaters who have already stolen the show.
Ilia Malinin
Ilia Malinin, the 20-year-old American competitive figure skater sensation, has already won the World Championship for 2024 and 2025 and has accomplished a two-time Grand Prix Final Champion title. Now, at the ISU World Team Trophy, Malinin continues to elevate Team USA. He dominated the Men’s Short Program, scoring 106.08, a nearly ten-point difference from his closest competitor. Malinin has propelled the USA with the overall scores after his fantastic performance.
Ilia Malinin mid-performance (Getty Images)
His competing attire was a dark blue and grey ensemble, making him look like an ice prince during his performance. We aren’t talking about a Disney Prince, but one you might picture while reading a current best-selling fantasy fiction novel. His mother, Tatiana, who also happens to be a retired professional ice skater, greeted him after his performance, making his way into our hearts and celebrating this special moment with his mom.
Kaori Sakamoto
Kaori Sakamoto is an extraordinary skater who has already left her mark at the age of 25. Kaori became the first Japanese skater, male or female, to win back-to-back world titles. She won three consecutive World Championships from 2022-2024.
Kaori scored second place in the women’s short program with a score of 75.54, just .16 points less than top scorer Alysa Liu for USA. The amount of spins and twirls she completed in her performance was impeccable, and her outfit was the cherry on top.
Kaori in her Cherry Red Leotard (Getty Images)
Her dress for her single performance was the perfect amount of shine and shimmer, and her white skates made her performance look over-the-top elegant. She definitely helped Team Japan gain traction with her routine.
Anastasiia Gubanova
Anastasiia during her routine (Getty Images)
Anastasiia Gubanova is representing Georgia in this competition as she is a Russian-Georgian ice skater. Born in 2002, she began skating at the age of four, and at the age of 20, she won the European Championship and has been the silver medalist for the past two years.
Anastasiia’s performance had so much emotion, which made her routine intense and eye drawing. On the Ice, she is a captivating performer equal to that of an Oscar-worthy actress. She competed with beautiful, complex skills but elevated her skating abilities with her raw emotions. She added to the drama by wearing a plunging,v-neck, black leotard blinged out and paired with a silver choker.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates
Madison and Evan being a perfect duo on the Ice (Getty Images)
After so much depth and emotion on the Ice, it was nice to lighten things up. These two did not lose their smiles during their whole performance. While skating for the USA Team, Madison and Evan did a phenomenal job with their ice dance rhythm dance. They scored 91.25 with their performance, leading the USA to first place once again. They made us feel as if we were watching a couple enjoy a high school dance, and it reminded us how fun ice skating is to watch.