Winter Olympic 2026: Chiba Mone Leads by 0.38 Points in Women's Short Program

The 2024 ISU Grand Prix Cup of China delivered an incredibly tight and competitive women’s short program, where Chiba Mone of Japan emerged with a narrow lead. However, the top three contenders were separated by just 0.38 points, and the field remained wide open as several skaters vied for the title. The program was marked by subtle technical flaws across the board, with the difference being made largely in the skaters' artistry and overall program components rather than purely technical skill. As the Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026 approach, this event showcases the high level of competition that will define Olympic figure skating. The performances at this stage are pivotal for skaters hoping to secure spots on their national teams, with artistry and execution playing an increasingly crucial role in the race for Olympic berths.

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Winter Olympic Figure Skating: Chiba Mone and Amber Glenn in Tight Battle for First Place

Chiba Mone of Japan finished the short program in first place with a score of 70.86 points, edging out U.S. skater Amber Glenn by just 0.02 points. Chiba’s performance to Donna Summer’s music was solid, but not without controversy. She was given a negative grade of execution for an unclear edge on her opening triple Lutz, which was also marked as a quarter under-rotated. This marked a slight dent in her technical score, the lowest of the top three. However, her program components, particularly her artistry and presentation, pushed her into the lead. The grading system emphasizes both technical elements and overall performance, and it was here that Chiba's artistry shone through.

Amber Glenn came very close to clinching the top spot. She performed to Janet Jackson’s This Time and despite a strong attempt, her performance had a major setback after landing her opening triple Axel, the only one in the competition, which was also a quarter under-rotated. Further, she struggled during the second part of her triple flip-triple toeloop combination, stepping out of the landing and putting a hand down to prevent a fall. These errors in execution ultimately prevented her from claiming first place, although her artistry and technical elements were impressive overall.

Sumiyoshi Rion’s Clean Skate but Lower Program Components

Sumiyoshi Rion, also from Japan, posted a strong performance with a score of 70.48 points, placing her in third. Her skate was the cleanest of the entire field. She executed a perfect double Axel and followed up with a flawless triple Lutz-triple toe combination and triple flip. These clean jumps earned her the highest technical marks among the entire field, but her lower program components score compared to Chiba and Glenn put her behind in total points. While Sumiyoshi’s clean elements were undeniable, her artistic performance and presentation were not quite on the same level as Chiba’s, which is a crucial aspect in this highly competitive sport. You Can Read Winter Olympic 2026: Amber Glenn Embracing Feminine Power and Redefining Figure Skating

Kim Chaeyeon and Others Struggle with Small Mistakes

Kim Chaeyeon of the Republic of Korea was in fourth place with a score of 69.27 points. While she performed with great potential, she had a quarter under-rotation on her opening triple Lutz, which impacted her score. Despite this, her overall performance was solid, and she showed moments of brilliance. Another Japanese skater, Watanabe Rinka, also had a strong skate, finishing in fifth place with 69.08 points. Rinka’s performance, while clean, did not have the technical flair or artistry needed to move up the standings. Kimmy Repond from Switzerland rounded out the top six with a score of 67.71 points, showing great effort but also facing some minor issues that prevented her from advancing higher in the ranks.

Winter Olympic: A Tightly Contested Field with Artistic Emphasis

The short program proved to be a display of technical skill combined with artistry, where the judges were discerning not only the execution of jumps and spins but also the flow and expressiveness of the skaters. Chiba Mone’s lead is tenuous, with Amber Glenn and Sumiyoshi Rion nipping at her heels. The competition remains open, and with the free skate yet to come, it is anyone’s title to claim.

Winter Olympic: Ice Dance Competition Guignard/Fabbri Lead

In the ice dance competition, Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri from Italy took the lead after the rhythm dance, scoring 84.84 points. Their performance was strong enough to give them a three-point lead over Canadians Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha, who scored 81.53 points. The Italian duo's superior grade of execution scores for their elements set them apart, even though their overall score was not far ahead of the Canadians.

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The U.S. pair of Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko are in third place with a score of 79.22 points, though they lost ground on their pattern dance step sequence, which was rated only as a level two compared to the level three sequences of the top two teams. This technical flaw cost them valuable points, leaving them just over two points behind the second-place Canadians.

Winter Olympic Figure Skating: A Critical Moment for Olympic Hopefuls

As the figure skating season continues to unfold, the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China serves as a vital benchmark for athletes aiming to qualify for the 2024-2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships and for those with an eye on the Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026. The tight competition in the women’s event at this stage suggests that the Olympic spots will be highly contester, and skaters will need to continue refining their technical elements and artistry to secure a place on the Olympic team.

For many of the athletes in the running, including Chiba, Glenn, Sumiyoshi, and others, the experience gained at this event is invaluable. The level of competition is intense, and the Winter Olympic will surely be a defining moment for these skaters, where their performance will be scrutinize on an even larger stage. As the free skate looms ahead, all eyes will be on how these skaters can handle the pressure and potentially secure Olympic berths in the years to come.

Winter Olympics on the Horizon: Key Moments for Skaters' Futures

The ISU Grand Prix Cup of China 2024 showcased a thrilling women’s short program, with Chiba Mone narrowly leading a tightly packed field. The competition for top spots is fierce, and with just fractions of a point separating the top contenders, the free skate promises to be an exciting conclusion to the event. With the Winter Olympic on the horizon, performances like these will play a significant role in determining which skaters rise to the occasion and earn their places in future international competitions.

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