Japanese figure skater Kazuki Tomono excelled in his short program at Skate America, marking his strongest performance in over three years. Tomono surged ahead of Kevin Aymoz from France and Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov to lead the competition heading into the free skate. Meanwhile, U.S. skater Jason Brown ranked fifth behind Italy’s Daniel Grassl in his first Grand Prix event of the season.
In the pairs event, Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava showcased a near-flawless routine to the iconic “Bolero,” extending their lead over Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara. Tomono, aged 27, aiming for a spot at the Winter Olympics, delivered an impressive performance set to music by New York-based duo SOFI TUKKER, earning a season’s best score of 95.77.
Aymoz, the six-time French champion, rebounded with a score of 93.56 after a disappointing showing at Skate Canada. Shaidorov, vying for his first Grand Prix victory, faced challenges in component scores, finishing with 89.67 points despite executing two quads.
Brown, a 30-year-old American eyeing his third Olympic appearance, faced obstacles in his “Riverdance” routine but managed to secure a top-five finish. Metelkina and Berulava, representing Georgia, continued their success by scoring 78.83 points with standout performances in side-by-side elements.
Miura and Kihara encountered difficulties with their side-by-side jump, resulting in a lower score of 74.42 points. The competition saw Germany’s Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel in third place, with the U.S. pair of Emily Chan and Spencer Howe in fifth place.
The final medalists in the men’s and pairs events will be determined on Saturday, while the ice dance competition and women’s short program will follow on the concluding day of Skate America on Sunday.
