Amber Glenn Beats Alysa Liu to Win Figure Skating Cup of China
In a stunning display of resilience, Amber Glenn overcame neck pain to claim victory in the figure skating Cup of China on Saturday, securing her title for the second consecutive year in Chongqing. Battling discomfort, Glenn showcased extraordinary skill and determination, ultimately besting her world champion U.S. teammate, Alysa Liu.
Glenn, who entered the event as the U.S. national champion, was positioned in third place following Friday’s short program. Her free skate began with a shaky landing on a triple toeloop, yet she quickly regained her composure, rallying to finish strong. As she completed her performance, Glenn grasped her neck, revealing the physical toll the competition had taken on her. Her total score of 214.78 points left Liu behind at 212.07 points, who unfortunately had a bout of misfortune with a wobbly landing on her triple flip. Japan’s Rinka Watanabe found herself in third place, finishing under immense pressure with the fifth-best free skate score overall.
Expressing her elation after the victory, Glenn stated, “I feel incredible! I’m really excited for my teammate and I to be first and second on the podium.” This win is particularly notable for Liu, as it marks her first time earning a Grand Prix podium spot, despite being a two-time world championship medalist.
In the men’s event, Japan’s Shun Sato triumphed again, landing an impressive three quadruple jumps in a flawless free skate. His total score of 278.12 points kept him comfortably ahead of Italy’s Daniel Grassl, who finished with 269.43 points. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov achieved 262.67 points but fell on his last jump.
Meanwhile, in ice dance, defending world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates celebrated their first Cup of China title on their sixth attempt, finishing with a score of 208.25 points to beat U.S. counterparts Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik with 202.27 points. Notably, France’s Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud took third place with 196.60 points.
The Cup of China serves as the second of six regular season Grand Prix events building up to a climactic final in December, offering vital insights for athletes aiming for medal glory at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February.
