On paper, World silver medalist Loena Hendrickx should be a pretty clear favorite at her Grand Prix debut of the season this week in France. But it may end up being the early-season consistency from Yelim Kim that could win this whole thing. And it could very well be a wide open field for the bronze here depending on how clean skaters go here. We saw a lot of movement last week between the short and free at Skate Canada for the women, and it could be the same again this week.
2022 Grand Prix de France predictions
Official hashtags: #AngersIDF2022 #GPFigure
GOLD Yelim Kim KOR - If there’s anyone who could put up a really strong challenge to Hendrickx, it is Kim. She won Finlandia Trophy with what was the highest score any senior woman had put up so far this season, and it’s been surpassed only by Kaori Sakamoto at Skate America. Clean programs will be key to her chances at taking her first Grand Prix title—and first Grand Prix medal of any kind
SILVER Loena Hendrickx BEL - If she can put down two clean or near-clean programs, Hendrickx is the class of the field. But so far this season, her free skate has been just inconsistent enough that it may pose a problem for her against a more consistent Kim. She’s experimented with program layouts that are more difficult and back-loaded to increase her base value as much as she can, and there are likely just some growing pains getting there.
BRONZE Mana Kawabe JPN - Though her Olympic season started off very strongly, including a silver at NHK Trophy, her end-of-season was not up to her standards. What had been more consistent for her most of the season got nervy at the end. She looks to be a bit more settled in her confidence this season so far, and will be looking for a medal here this week.
4. Haein Lee KOR - Fourth at Skate America two weeks ago, Lee has found herself yo-yoing back and forth with her free skate this season. She will look to have a solid short program as she did in her last two events to set herself up for that free skate. And a lot of her chances for a medal here will depending on the rotation-cleanness of her jumps.
5. Audrey Shin USA - After a win at Cranberry Cup and a fourth at US Classic, Shin comes into her first Grand Prix of the season looking to find the consistency that took her to a solid fourth-place finish last season at Four Continents. Like Lee, she will need to watch for underrotations if she is to figure out a way onto that podium.
6. Rino Matsuike JPN - At her best, she’s got podium potential here, but she didn’t get to finish Skate America two weeks ago after withdrawing before the free skate due to illness. If she has recovered enough, she’s got a good shot at vying for a medal.
7. Rion Sumiyoshi JPN - She’s got a quad toe and she’s unleashed that jump at Regionals a month ago. Though it wasn’t successful there, it led her to a second place finish at that event. She makes her senior Grand Prix debut here in her first full international senior season.
8. Lea Serna FRA - With a win at Trophee Metropole Nice, the French champion is the most likely of the home team skaters to finish highest this week in Angers. She took eighth in this event three years ago.
9. Lindsay van Zundert NED - In her second Grand Prix in as many weeks, van Zundert brings her 11th-place from Mississauga and hopes to improve on that standing this week. She’s already had a busy season, competing in fourth event in just a couple of months.
10. Olga Mikutina AUT - A surprise eighth at Worlds in 2021, Mikutina has not regained that form after a knee issue kept her from being at her best last season. She was seventh at Nebelhorn Trophy and then ninth at Finlandia Trophy.
11. Maia Mazzara FRA - Third at French Masters and third most recently at Trophee Metropole Nice, Mazzara comes into the first Grand Prix of her career.
12. Mae Berenice Meite FRA - It has been almost two years since Meite tore her Achilles at Worlds in 2021 mid-program, and all she’s done since is will herself back to competitive form. And though we’ve seen her in a few events this season, this will be her first Grand Prix since 2019. She continues to improve on her road back.