ISU GP Finlandia Trophy 2025: Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin Win Pairs Event
Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin captured victory at the 2025 Finlandia Trophy, securing their spot in next month’s ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Final. The competition, which unfolded on Saturday, November 22, 2025, showcased intense rivalry, with less than a point separating the top four teams going into the free skate, marking the tightest margin in Grand Prix history.
With an impressive score of 136.48 points in the free segment, Hase and Volodin amassed a total of 206.88 points overall, demonstrating their finesse under pressure. The defending champions faced an uphill battle; they stumbled during a death spiral in the short program, and Volodin suffered a fall on the triple Salchow in the free, yet their high-difficulty program ultimately propelled them to victory.
The runner-up position was claimed by the USA’s Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, who achieved a personal-best of 205.49 points, just shy of their 2024 Skate America bronze. Their poignant routine, titled “Where do I Begin,” paid tribute to legendary Olympic champions Yekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Grinkov’s passing.
Completing the podium were fellow Americans Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, who rounded out the event with a score of 199.09. This marks another third-place finish for the pair, who also secured bronze at Skate Canada International, showcasing a promising comeback as O’Shea recovers from recent surgery.
In an extraordinary showcase of talent and determination, the Finlandia Trophy highlighted the growth of pairs skating on the global stage. Fans and commentators will watch closely as Hase and Volodin gear up to defend their title at the upcoming Grand Prix Final in what promises to be an electrifying conclusion to the season. More exciting updates will follow as the season progresses.
