Over the past week, several notable events have unfolded in the world of figure skating:
International Competitions:
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ISU Kinoshita Group Cup (September 4–6, 2026): Held in Tokyo, Japan, this ISU Challenger Series event showcased strong performances from Russian pairs. Alexandra Boikova and Dmitry Kozlovsky clinched the gold medal with 203.66 points, while compatriots Yekaterina Chikmaryova/Matvey Yanchenkov and Anastasia Mukhotorova/Dmitry Yevgenyev secured silver and bronze, respectively. (situation.mto.sh)
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Junior Grand Prix Thailand (September 6–7, 2026): U.S. ice dancers Annelise Stapert and Maxim Korotcov achieved a fourth-place finish, setting personal bests in all segments. They performed to “Believer” by Imagine Dragons and “Implicit Demand for Proof” by Twenty One Pilots, earning a rhythm dance score of 60.36 and a free dance score of 79.03. (usfigureskating.org)
National Competitions:
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Greater Chicagoland Fall Invitational (September 10–13, 2026): Hosted at the Robert Crown Community Center in Evanston, Illinois, this event is part of U.S. Figure Skating’s National Qualifying Series. (wwfsc.com)
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Bend of the River Compete USA Figure Skating Competition (September 12, 2026): Organized by the Mankato Figure Skating Club, this competition at All Seasons Arena in Mankato, Minnesota, provided beginner skaters an opportunity to perform in front of judges and spectators. (greatermankato.com)
Athlete Status Updates:
- Kamila Valieva’s Neutral Status Denied: Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, along with fellow 2022 Olympians Mark Kondratiuk and ice dancers Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin, was denied neutral status by the International Skating Union (ISU), barring them from international competition. The ISU did not specify the reasons for their disqualification but noted that appeals remain possible. (apnews.com)
Highlights:
- Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva again refused neutral status to compete, Published on Thursday, September 10
