Last year at this time, the then-newly crowned World champion Kaori Sakamoto was trying to figure out how to deal with being the favorite at every competition she competed in. This year, she comes into Grand Prix Espoo being much more comfortable in that leading role, and she will be looking to elevate herself another notch with the Grand Prix Final in sight. The rest of the field could have some surprises this week.
Grand Prix Espoo predictions
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GOLD Kaori Sakamoto JPN - Sakamoto’s win at Skate Canada was a statement. She broke the 225-point mark during the Grand Prix series, something she has not done internationally before with the exception of late-season competitions, so it’s really a testament to where her skating is right now. She should take this title pretty handily, but she will definitely need to avoid some of those mental lapses that she had last season during the fall.
SILVER Chaeyeon Kim KOR - With a silver from Skate Canada under her belt, Kim has the potential to get herself into the Grand Prix Final with another silver this week. She’s had some underrotation issues this season, which has kept her scores from being as high as she would like to have them.
BRONZE Rion Sumiyoshi JPN - In a topsy-turvy event at Grand Prix de France, Sumiyoshi landed a quad toe and won the free skate to vault herself from fifth to a bronze medal there. Her overall skating has seen some marked improvement this season, and if she can put two clean skates together, she could really make a mark and potentially even get herself in contention for a Grand Prix Final spot.
4. Amber Glenn USA - For about 4 minutes at Skate America, Glenn was having the competition of her life—a clean short program and then the first triple axel she’s landed in international competition—but then the second 4 minutes were a complete unraveling for her. Her resilience will be on the table this week, and a medal is very much within reach.
5. Mana Kawabe JPN - Eighth at Skate America, Kawabe was hoping to put down better skating in her first international of the season. But what she showed in practice was not what she ultimately put out in competition, so the potential is there for a strong finish heading into the all-important Japan Championships in one month.
6. Nella Pelkonen FIN - Last year’s Finnish silver medalist has been the standout among the Finnish women this season. She finished just off the podium at Finlandia Trophy and could be the dark horse surprise this week in her Grand Prix debut.
7. Starr Andrews USA - Her strong suit has been and continues to be the short program, where she has relied on her trusty triple toe-triple toe to put herself in a good spot going into the free skate. The free hasn’t always been her friend, but we’ve seen that she can put up some strong numbers internationally. She will need that free skate magic to get herself into that top half this week.
8. Young You KOR - In this rebuilding season for You, she has shown some good skating, but her performances at Skate America were subpar, even with program content that she’s generally comfortable with. She will need to get her rotations in order this week.
9. Lorine Schild FRA - GP France was a fantastic competition for her, and she was one of the many French skaters to have great skates at home. She was eighth at that event but put up some very strong scores among some very solid skating.
10. Lara Naki Gutmann ITA - A late entry to Espoo, Gutmann gets to show off her cult favorite programs again on the Grand Prix. She was ninth at Skate Canada three weeks ago.
11. Janna Jyrkinen FIN - The Finnish champion has not been able to figure out her jumps this season, likely the result of a growth spurt since last year. She was 12th at Grand Prix France two weeks ago.
12. Oona Ounasvuori FIN - Sixth at Volvo Open earlier this month, Ounasvuori makes her Grand Prix debut at home this week.