Memorable 2025-26 JGP performances of developing skaters

[Anna K.]

This thread is inspired by The Medalist anime series, which follows the story of a developing skater on her way to her first landed 3S. So, if there is a thread about junior stars, then developing skaters deserve a thread, too!
Especially after having seen the anime series, I find it interesting to watch skaters in this phase of development - not only because they strive to reach new levels that will open new opportunities for them but also because they (and their coaches) need to make strategic decisions about how to show off the strong sides that they already have - how to "choose the right dessert", if to use a quote from the anime.

What about you? What performances of developing skaters have caught your attention and why?

 

[Mathman]

Thank you for this thread. I hope people will post their favorite performances,

Alas, I cannot really contribute for the simple reason that I am totally in awe of anyone who can do a double Axel. I think of it this way. There are 8 billion people in the world. What infinitesimal percentage of them is capable of such a feat?

 

[Anna K.]

I'll start then with the first 2A girl on my list
Eva Suznjevic, 14 y.o., represented Bosnia and Herzegovina, impressed me with her free skate in Varese:

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I'd say that the "cherry on the cake" was her attitude and the way how she remained in the image even when she bowed after the program and level 4 spins that she has already at this stage of her development

Well done, Eva, you chose the right dessert!

 

[Karoltyna]

Today's home girl Phattaratida Kaneshige. This is the reason I watch JGP.

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[Anna K.]

Today's home girl Phattaratida Kaneshige. This is the reason I watch JGP.

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What the heck? She landed 3Lz+3T with plus GOE. Does she belong here? Take her to the star skaters'thread immediately

Kidding! Thanks for sharing a memorable performance! She just danced it I guess that memorable performances of skaters whom we subjectively see as developing skaters may also be included in this thread [trying to stretch my own definition LOL]

 

[4everchan]

Ok... Don't be upset with me

But my stars are Ava and Yoni. They don't land harder jumps than 3s and 3t and 2a

Ok fine, they have a triple twist and a throw triple lutz

But they are just so beautiful to watch and considering how people often neglect pairs, here is my performance so far of skaters who don't have a 3lz-3t or a triple axel/quads.

Ok... I know.. they have qualified for JGPF... don't be upset with me and enjoy this magical performance

 

[Anna K.]

Ok... Don't be upset with me

But my stars are Ava and Yoni. They don't land harder jumps than 3s and 3t and 2a

Ok fine, they have a triple twist and a throw triple lutz

But they are just so beautiful to watch and considering how people often neglect pairs, here is my performance so far of skaters who don't have a 3lz-3t or a triple axel/quads.

Ok... I know.. they have qualified for JGPF... don't be upset with me and enjoy this magical performance

This time, I can't stretch my definition no matter how hard I try. This is plain off-topic

Wait. I know! I'll award you a wild card to post off-topic in my threads... because I know that you will anyway

 

[4everchan]

This time, I can't stretch my definition no matter how hard I try. This is plain off-topic

Wait. I know! I'll award you a wild card to post off-topic in my threads... because I know that you will anyway

I love your threads

 

[Anna K.]

Another 2A girl from my list: Vianna Shen-Rou Linke, 16 y.o., representing Singapore, short program in Bangkok:

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Her 2A was fine and she had solid 3S and 3Lo attempts (two-footed landings). Given that she has limited ice time, I wonder what progress she might make later on condition that she goes to a college that has an ice rink nearby?
The cherry on the cake was her interpretation. I particularly liked the choreo when she froze dramatically at the beginning of the the program and also her step sequence. In fact, her StSq was slow, had little ice coverage and received (deservedly) only level 1 but she interpreted the movement so well with her whole body that it actually looked intense on camera.

Go, Vianna! Follow your figure skating dream and you will be a dream on the ice!

 

[lariko]

So far I found less memorable moments than I usually do, unfortunately, for obvious reasons, but I'd say that in no 3A/not stars category

Dzumanyjazova's SP in Varese
Ezhova's SP in Bangkok
Gianesini/Klaperman FD after the fall in RD
Stapert/Korotkov's RD in Varese
Fedir Babenko in Ankara

 

[cyndyt]

I really enjoyed Rafif Herfianto Putra from Indonesia today

 

[Anna K.]

I really enjoyed Rafif Herfianto Putra from Indonesia today

Thank you for the suggestion! It's a good pick indeed! Mark said it all after the end of his performance: a nice surprise, good skating skills, aesthetic body positions... Here is the video link to his performance with Mark's commentary:

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I'd say, what made his program the right type of dessert for him was the music choice: not fast - after all, he is a youngster who is merely working on his 3S - but with a good pace so that he could show off the flow of his movements and nice edges.
As he is 16 y.o. by now, it is all about his decision where he'll go to college and if he'll continue skating there. If he decides that he wants figure skating in the next phase of his life... Then everything can happen

 

[4everchan]

So far I found less memorable moments than I usually do, unfortunately, for obvious reasons, but I'd say that in no 3A/not stars category


Gianesini/Klaperman FD after the fall in RD

I agree these two are not stars. They are superstars. They could even medal at worlds

 

[4everchan]

I have a genuine one for your fabulous thread.

No 3A... but lots of flair... Beautiful body alignment.

 

[Arin]

I was impressed with Bella Aydin and Latifakhon Shoisaeva at JGP Ankara, some lovely skating from both of them

 

[Bluediamonds09]

Yu-Feng Tsai has my heart! Gorgeous skating and her PCS doesn't reflect that.

 

[lariko]

I have a genuine one for your fabulous thread.

No 3A... but lots of flair... Beautiful body alignment.

He will have it soon, I think. He is 14 and his tripple jumps are nice.

 

[Anna K.]

Yu-Feng Tsai has my heart! Gorgeous skating and her PCS doesn't reflect that.

She's such an elegant skater

Her PCS are actually fine, rated "above average" according to the ISU Components Chart. According to "thinking words" for the Program Components Scale, points 6.00-6.75 mean that she has fulfilled the PCS requirements "sufficiently, evidently, mainly". So, if we take one component bullet point, i.e., the "variety of edges, steps, turns, movements and directions" - judges think that she has shown that sufficiently. To get into the next category (rated "good", 7.00-7.75), she needs to show said variety "frequently, effectively, competently, considerably, confidently, most of the time" - right now, it definitely isn't shown most of the time; she spends a lot of program time in crossovers between jumps just like most junior skaters (and many seniors, alas).
Long story short, to get better components, she needs more challenging and complicated choreography. Her long program (see a link below) leaves some space for imagination in this aspect. But at the same time, it's a reminder that beauty is possible at every skill level - truly, a beautiful piece of performance!

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[Anna K.]

Once the PCS was mentioned, I want to make a post about a developing skater of a completely different type. This is a skater who, either consciously or because it somehow went this way, has left the PCS out of his attention at the current stage of his development and goes jump hunting devotedly instead. And this is the rare occasion when I enjoyed his long program regardless.
Manjesh Tiwari, 18.y.o., represents India:

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Well, normally I am headlong into aesthetics. So you don't want to know what I screamed at my PC screen when I saw his... was it meant to be a body line? ...and neither does he (a spoiler: my screaming did not include any compliments). But, even though he did not interpret the music in terms of skating, his interpretation was his attitude that transferred to me his adrenaline, his passion for speed and flight. And I enjoyed it. So, yes, in this aspect I absolutely count it as an aesthetically pleasing performance. And I don't care if he is a late bloomer. I have a strong impression that, sooner or later, he'll get those jumps done. How else, if he loves the process of jumping&falling and wants it in his life? At the end of the day, he'll succeed. And after that, the PCS will also follow.

Stay healthy, Manjesh! See you in 4CC!

 

[Anna K.]

I also have a 2A girl who had a memorable performance that combined dramatic music with dramatic jump attempts. Noa Segui Jimenez, 16.y.o., represented Spain, finished last after the short program in Varese. She made a comeback in her free skate. She tried 3S twice (fell at the first attempt and popped the second) and 3Lo (a fall) and regardless climbed one place up (0.22 of a point short from climbing two places up) so I'd say that she chose the right type of dessert:

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Noa genuinely impressed me by the fact that she wasn't late on the music despite of two falls. The choreography itself is not eye-catching but it is phrased to the music and Noa performed it perfectly. Given her placement, I initially was focused on what elements she could do, not on her performance, so her choreo sequence took me by surprise and left me blinking and thinking: "Wait, but she actually hears the music! She sees a sense in what she is doing. She just needs to figure out what is the most expressive body line for her. Then, she will have it in her pocket. By the way, how comes that she has no problem with the timing? She had two falls. How does she do it?" Later, I re-watched and realized: she fell so efficiently that she was up in a split second after the fall, which tells volumes about how much she works in training. It's harder for girls than it is for boys, so it will probably take a season or two before she will come in terms with her grown-up body and her hard work will finally pay off. But, regardless...

Somehow, neither Ted nor Mark dropped their "good skater, bright future" catchphrase after Noa's performance. Well... She's talented, she works hard, and she knows how to fall safely. Ted, Mark... I'll say it for you: "A good skater, bright future!"