Ami Nakai Wins Grand Prix de France

Seventeen-year-old Ami Nakai won her debut ISU Grand Prix event at the Grand Prix de France in Angers, leading a Japanese podium sweep with Kaori Sakamoto second and Rion Sumiyoshi third; Nakai posted a 227.08 total after a near‑flawless free skate (149.08) in which she landed all seven jumps and was the only skater to attempt a triple axel. Nakai said she was “elated” and surprised by the victory. Sakamoto, who is retiring, acknowledged errors in her skate and welcomed Nakai as a new rival. In pairs, world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara comfortably won overall with a 219.15 total. U.S. world champion Ilia Malinin opened the men’s event with a commanding short program score of 105.22 after landing a quad flip and a quad lutz–triple toe combination. Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson led the ice dance after the rhythm dance.