Higuchi clinches gold at Skate America, Miura and Kihara excel

In the United States on Saturday night, Wakaba Higuchi achieved her first Grand Prix victory after eight years of striving, delivering a flawless performance at Skate America. She scored 196.93 points, narrowly surpassing her teammate Rinka Watanabe, who secured the silver with 195.22 points. Meanwhile, American skater Isabeau Levito, after leading in the short program, fell while attempting a triple lutz and finished third with 194.83 points. In the pairs event, Japanese duo Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara clinched the title with 214.33 points, outperforming reigning U.S. champions Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea. This marked a significant comeback for Miura and Kihara, who were thrilled to secure their first competition win in some time. Higuchi had started off in fourth place after the short program but made a remarkable comeback during her free skate. American Bradie Tennell also sought to improve upon her previous results but could not secure a podium finish due to an unplanned single lutz execution. Levito expressed disappointment over her fall after an impressive start, acknowledging that her excitement led to the mistake. In the men's category, world champion Ilia Malinin led the short program with a score of 99.59 points. His performance against rival Kao Miura intensified the competition in the buildup to the 2026 Winter Olympics. This performance from Malinin contributes to his ongoing quest for dominance in figure skating, as he aims to solidify his Olympic ambitions. Overall, the event showcased remarkable displays of talent and resilience from all participants, reflecting the competitive spirit prevalent in figure skating today.