ISU Junior Grand Prix Final 2025: World junior champ Nakata Rio leads men after short program
In an exhilarating start to the 2025 Junior Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan, crowd favorite Nakata Rio showcased his remarkable skills with a standout short program that has the audience buzzing. The reigning world junior champion left the rink with an impressive score of 86.48, putting him ahead of his closest competitor, Seo Minkyu of South Korea, by over 1.5 points.
The 17-year-old phenom, who has faced setbacks this season, including a stress fracture, executed his elements with a grace that thrilled fans. The applause crescendoed as he punctuated his performance by punching the air in triumph. Although Nakata was shy of his goal to establish a new junior world record, he exhibited true competitive spirit, explaining, “I felt very good on the ice today. I knew I was going to finish first while I was waiting for the score.” Reflecting on his hopes for a score in the 90 range, he stated, “The triple flip was a little shaky, so I thought it might be difficult, but yeah, I was hoping for better.”
Seo, who is no stranger to the pressure of elite competition, delivered a clean routine, achieving a season’s best of 84.82. After a challenging training season in unfamiliar rinks due to the closing of his home rink, the world junior silver medallist finds himself in close pursuit of Nakata.
A noteworthy addition to this exciting field is Denis Krouglov from Belgium, who claimed third place with a score of 74.29. Not only does this mark an impressive achievement for Krouglov, he is the first Belgian man to reach the Junior Grand Prix Final in 24 years.
As the competition continues, the stage is set for a thrilling repeat of the fierce rivalry between Nakata and Seo. All eyes will be on them as the final performances unfold, promising more astonishing feats in the arena of professional figure skating.
