It’s a talented and potentially very competitive group of top skaters in the women’s event at 2023 Grand Prix de France this week. There are at least six skaters here who could find themselves on the podium, and there are a number of them who have earned Grand Prix medals in the past. Consistency will certainly be key here for success among this solid field.
Grand Prix de France predictions
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GOLD Isabeau Levito USA - Second at Skate America, Levito has the opportunity to become the first skater to qualify for the Grand Prix Final this week with a win. It’s been a lot of seconds on the Grand Prix—three last year, and one this year—and she’s in prime position to get herself a first Grand Prix title.
SILVER Haein Lee KOR - With a silver at Worlds in March, Lee really put herself on the map and distinguished herself from the rest of the very deep Korean women’s field. It was quite the feat for a skater who has often been in the shadow of her teammates who have had better results over the past few seasons. But when it mattered most, she delivered two tremendous skates. She’s earned two silver medals so far this season at Nepela and then at Shanghai Trophy. This will be her chance to grab a first Grand Prix medal.
BRONZE Kimmy Repond SUI - Last season was a brilliant debut on the senior international circuit for Repond. She became the first Swiss woman to finish in the top 10 at Worlds since Sarah Meier in 2009. And she’s wasted no time in her sophomore season already, taking silver at Nebelhorn Trophy behind Levito with a 130+ free skate. If she gets on the podium this week, she will once again follow in Meier’s footsteps.
4. Mone Chiba JPN - Likely chalking it up to nerves, but after looking really strong all week in practice at Skate America, Chiba couldn’t convert in her free skate and ended in sixth place there. But she has shown some very promising skating over the past couple of seasons, and at her best, she’s very much a challenge for a medal. She will need to keep things clean, particularly with getting full rotation on her jumps.
5. Rion Sumiyoshi JPN - In her debut last season on the Grand Prix, Sumiyoshi was one of the breakout surprises, earning two bronze medals in her two events, including this competition. The rest of her season ended with a disappointing 14th at Japan Nationals, but she’s started off solidly so far, winning Tokyo Regionals coming into this event.
6. Anastasiia Gubanova GEO - With a win at Lombardia and a bronze at Finlandia under her belt, Gubanova hopes to continue her streak of Grand Prix medals that started with her two bronzes from last year (like Sumiyoshi also had last year). She will need to be more consistent against this packed field to get back onto the podium.
7. Wakaba Higuchi JPN - Many of us wondered if the Beijing Olympic season was the last we would see Higuchi. But she continued on, though hampered by injury last year that made her cut her season short right after her only competition at 2022 Lombardia Trophy. But she’s back this week in her first international event in over a year after taking fourth at the Tokyo Regional competition. The free skate will likely be the bigger challenge of the two programs, but fans will be excited for her return.
8. Nina Pinzarrone BEL - With an 11th place debut at Worlds in March, Pinzarrone really announced herself as one to watch for the future. And after a subpar opening at Lombardia Trophy, she rebounded with a strong free skate a month later at Shanghai Trophy and comes into Angers on an upward trajectory. She could surprise.
9. Lea Serna FRA - The veteran of the three French women at this Grand Prix, Serna has had the best start to her season ever, winning French Masters and taking silver at Budapest Trophy. She was ninth last year in her home Grand Prix and has the potential to move up if she can skate like she has so far this fall.
10. Lorine Schild FRA - Schild has shown some promise on the international scene, finishing 11th at Junior Worlds earlier this year and also grabbing the Worlds spot in the senior ranks. She’s got strong technical content, just needs more consistency to get herself up there.
11. Janna Jyrkinen FIN - It’s been something of a slow start for the Finnish champion this season so far, as she seems to be trying to get some of her more difficult jumps and combos back from last season. She was most recently eighth at Finlandia Trophy.
12. Maia Mazzara FRA - The three-time French national medalist has had a busy season already, taking 19th at Budapest Trophy and bronze at the domestic French Masters event. She was 12th here last season.