Three pairs this week really stand out among the rest, and even though all three of them have really only been together for a short time, the skaters themselves have had their own longevity stories to tell on the skating scene. Gold looks to be a rematch from Worlds between World champions Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier and World silver medalists Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara, but if Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps’ performance at Skate America were any indication, they could turn in an upset in Torino.
2022 Grand Prix Final predictions
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GOLD Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara JPN - Already the biggest history-makers for Japanese pairs, following in the footsteps of Narumi Takahashi/Mervin Tran a decade before them, Miura/Kihara became the first Japanese pair to win a Grand Prix title (and then followed it up with another one a few weeks thereafter). Their biggest competition looks to be Knierim/Frazier, who they took second to at Worlds earlier this year. Getting those side-by-sides rotated will be most necessary.
SILVER Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier USA - The World champions have a lot to be proud of. After becoming the first American pair to win Worlds in over 40 years, they became the first American pair to win two Grand Prix events in one season. And like Miura/Kihara, they have the opportunity to make more history this week. And also like Miura/Kihara, the side-by-sides will be key, and in particular, the triple sals, which they haven’t landed successfully so far in competition this season.
BRONZE Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps CAN - Never mind that Stellato’s last Grand Prix Final was when she won the 1999 Junior Grand Prix Final; and never mind that Deschamps has never really had that much success with other pair partners. Together, this pair has gelled so well over the past two seasons, and of all the other teams here, they have the opportunity to be the spoilers should the top two not skate their best.
4. Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii ITA - It’s been an absolute breakthrough season for the three-time Italian bronze medalists. It’s not just the consistency that has helped their rise this season, it’s also the very visible improvements together as a pair—that has pushed them into a new level, winning them two medals on the Grand Prix.
5. Emily Chan/Spencer Howe USA - Silver, silver, silver, silver. That’s been Chan/Howe’s second full international season so far. Like many of the pairs in this field, they have also improved in leaps and bounds in their basic pairing. And if they are able to skate two clean programs this week, they have a shot at the podium. The side-by-sides can be very tricky for them.
6. Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini ITA - In their seventh season together, the reigning Italian silver medalists took their new status as the leading Italian pair into this season. Of all the pairs here, their side-by-sides have been the least consistent, and that’s going to be the biggest obstacle for them this week.