A roster of talented figure skaters representing the US, including Ashley Wagner, Maia and Alex Shibutani, Jason Brown, and many more, kicked off the 2016-17 Grand Prix of Figure Skating series in style over the weekend by claiming an impressive seven of 12 available medals at Skate America 2016. Here's a look at the full results fromthe competition, which took place from Oct. 21-23 in the Chicago-area.
Strong showing for American women
In women's singles, former US national champion and 2014 Olympian Ashley Wagner (196.44) executed a strong short program to claim an early lead, and was able to hold off a hard --and unexpected-- charge by fellow American Mariah Bell to take Skate America 2016 gold.
Bell, who won the long program with a new personal best, rose from a sixth place short program finish to secure a surprise silver (191.59). Mai Mihara of Japan earned the bronze with a 189.28. Reigning US champ Gracie Goldskated last and had a chance to secure an American podium sweep, but fell twice during her free skate and finished just fifth (184.22), behind the three medalists as well as Canadian Gabrielle Daleman (186.63).
Pairs silver for Team USA, per Skate America 2016 results
In the pairs competition, Julianne Seguin and Charlie Bilodeau overcame a third place short program to win the gold (197.31). Americans Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier earned the nation's second silver medal (192.65) of Skate America 2016, while early leaders Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov of Russia held on to take the bronze despite a fifth place long program finish.
The other American pairs who competed, Tarah Kayne and Danny O'Shea, and Marissa Castelli and Mervin Tran, placed 6th and 7th, respectively.
Jason Brown, Adam Rippon go 2-3 in men's final
In men's singles, Shoma Uno of Japan scored the victory by winning both segments of the competition (279.34). A pair of American men, former national champion and Olympian Jason Brown (268.38) and reigning US champ Adam Rippon (261.43), completed the podium by claiming the silver and bronze.
Timothy Dolensky of Team USA came in eighth.
More gold for the Shib Sibs
Ice dancing closed out the competitive portion of Skate America 2016, with Americans again placing one-two in the final standings. Siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani won both segments of the competition on their way to posting a gold medal-worthy mark of 185.75.
Team USA's Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue claimed the silver (175.77), while Russians Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloview won the bronze (174.77). The third American couple, Elliana Pogrebinsky and Alex Benoit, placed seventh.
The 2016-17 Grand Prix of Figure Skating series continues this coming weekend with Skate Canada 2016.
