Von Felten Earns Bronze Medal at Junior Grand Prix Poland
Sophie Joline von Felten rallied to secure a bronze medal at this year’s Junior Grand Prix (JGP) in Gdansk, Poland, marking her second consecutive bronze in the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.
The event, held from October 1-4, saw talented performances from Team USA, including Caleb Farrington, pairs team Naomi Williams and Lachlan Lewer, and ice dancers Grace and Grant Fischer, who each placed fifth in their events.
Starting in fifth place after the short program, von Felten stunned the audience by achieving a personal-best free skate score of 132.43. Her performance to music from Frida included an exhilarating triple Axel-double toe loop combination and a groundbreaking quad Salchow. She made history as the first U.S. woman to execute a quad Salchow in international competition, solidifying her status in the sport.
With an accumulated total of 190.67, von Felten now has three JGP medals overall, although she may miss qualifications for the Junior Grand Prix Final after this event.
In her first JGP event, Kaya Tiernan turned heads with personal-best results: 57.05 in the short program, 108.19 in the free skate, and a total of 165.24. Her solid routine even included a noteworthy triple Lutz-double Axel-double Axel sequence.
Farrington amassed an overall score of 204.80 while executing multiple Level 4 spins. Despite a fall on his quad toe attempt, he showcased resilience to finish strong with a free skate score of 135.83.
Returning performances from various teams highlighted the Junior Grand Prix with Williams and Lewer garnering attention for their innovative lifts, and Fischer siblings demonstrating exceptional synchronization and technical skill.
The overall excitement at Junior Grand Prix Poland continues to keep fans of figure skating on the edge of their seats, as U.S. skaters show promise for the future. Look forward to upcoming competitions, as athletes strive for even greater achievements in the world of professional figure skating.
