Ilia Malinin of the United States greets the spectators after the men's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
NAGOYA, Japan, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The 2025-26 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final concluded here on Saturday, with Ilia Malinin and Alysa Liu of the United States taking the men's and women's singles titles respectively.
In the men's free skating, two-time world champion Malinin, who was third after the short program, staged a remarkable comeback. He scored 238.24 points in the free skating, breaking his own world record of 228.97 set earlier this season at the Grand Prix in Canada. With a total of 332.29 points, the 21-year-old claimed the title to remain unbeaten throughout this season's Grand Prix series, completing a hat-trick of Grand Prix Final victories.
"I felt like my program was at 90 percent, so there's always more to work to do," said Malinin. "My goal at the Olympics is to make sure that I'm prepared and ready and in the right mindset to go out there and to really deliver my best."
Short program leader Yuma Kagiyama of Japan took the silver with 302.41 points, while his compatriot Shun Sato earned 292.08 points to secure the bronze.
In the women's free skate, world champion Alysa Liu, who ranked second after the short program, delivered a strong performance, scoring 146.70 points in the free skate and 222.49 points in total to claim her first Grand Prix Final title.
Japan's Ami Nakai took silver with 220.89 points. Sakamoto Kaori, who recorded the highest free skate score of the day with 149.40 points, climbed from fifth after the short program to finish third with 218.80 points. Short program leader and world bronze medalist Mone Chiba fell twice in the free skate and slipped to fifth with 210.22 points.
In the free dance, Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States produced a steady performance to score 131.68 points in the free and 220.42 points in total, sealing the title of ice dance and completing a Grand Prix hat-trick this season.
Chinese skaters shone in the junior pairs free skate. Guo Rui and Zhang Yiwen delivered solid performances on high-difficulty elements such as throw jumps and lifts to score 113.21 points in the free skate and 177.05 points overall to take the gold.
"Today our throw jumps were executed quite well. Although we were a bit nervous, the transitions between the elements were much smoother than before," Zhang said. "Being able to compete with so many strong pairs at the Grand Prix Final and to stand on the top of the podium is a huge encouragement for us." ■
Gold medalist Alysa Liu (C) of the United States, silver medalist Nakai Ami (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Sakamoto Kaori of Japan pose during the awarding ceremony for the women's figure skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Sakamoto Kaori of Japan competes during the women's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Alysa Liu of the United States competes during the women's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Sakamoto Kaori of Japan competes during the women's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Nakai Ami of Japan competes during the women's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Nakai Ami of Japan competes during the women's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Kagiyama Yuma of Japan competes during the men's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Ilia Malinin of the United States competes during the men's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Kagiyama Yuma of Japan competes during the men's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Sato Shun of Japan competes during the men's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Ilia Malinin of the United States competes during the men's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Gold medalist Ilia Malinin (C) of the United States, silver medalist Kagiyama Yuma (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Sato Shun of Japan pose during the awarding ceremony for the men's figure skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Ilia Malinin of the United States competes during the men's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Kagiyama Yuma of Japan competes during the men's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Ilia Malinin of the United States competes during the men's free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Gold medalists Guo Rui (3rd L)/Zhang Yiwen (3rd R) of China, silver medalists Zhang Xuanqi (1st L)/Feng Wenqiang (2nd L) of China and bronze medalists Ava Kemp (2nd R)/Yohnatan Elizarov of Canada pose during the awarding ceremony after the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Gold medalists Guo Rui (3rd L)/Zhang Yiwen (3rd R) of China, silver medalists Zhang Xuanqi (1st L)/Feng Wenqiang (2nd L) of China and bronze medalists Ava Kemp (2nd R)/Yohnatan Elizarov of Canada pose after the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Guo Rui (L)/Zhang Yiwen of China attends the press conference after the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Guo Rui (L)/Zhang Yiwen of China attends the press conference after the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Zhang Xuanqi (L)/Feng Wenqiang of China compete during the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Guo Rui (L)/Zhang Yiwen of China compete during the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Zhang Xuanqi (top)/Feng Wenqiang of China compete during the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Guo Rui (L)/Zhang Yiwen of China compete during the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Chen Yuxuan (top)/Dong Yinbo of China compete during the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Zhang Xuanqi (L)/Feng Wenqiang of China compete during the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Ava Kemp/Yohnatan Elizarov (R) of Canada compete during the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Ava Kemp/Yohnatan Elizarov (front) of Canada compete during the junior pair skating free skating at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Gold medalists Madison Chock (front C)/Evan Bates (back C) of the United States, silver medalists Laurence Fournier Beaudry (front L)/Guillaume Cizeron (back L) of France and bronze medalists Lilah Fear (front R)/Lewis Gibson of Britain pose during the awarding ceremony for the ice dance at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Madison Chock (top)/Evan Bates of the United States compete during the ice dance free dance at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Madison Chock (R)/Evan Bates of the United States compete during the ice dance free dance at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Lilah Fear (L)/Lewis Gibson of Britain compete during the ice dance free dance at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Laurence Fournier Beaudry (top)/Guillaume Cizeron of France compete during the ice dance free dance at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Lilah Fear (L)/Lewis Gibson of Britain compete during the ice dance free dance at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Madison Chock (front)/Evan Bates of the United States compete during the ice dance free dance at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Madison Chock (front)/Evan Bates of the United States compete during the ice dance free dance at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
Laurence Fournier Beaudry (R)/Guillaume Cizeron of France compete during the ice dance free dance at ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, Dec. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)
