Figure skating – Skate America 2025: Japan’s Watanabe Rinka edges ahead of world champion Alysa Liu in short program
Watanabe Rinka dazzled figure skating fans at Skate America 2025 in Lake Placid, New York, with a standout performance that featured a stunning triple Axel, allowing her to nudge ahead of reigning world champion, Alysa Liu. On Saturday, November 15th, Watanabe secured a score of 74.35, just 0.62 points above Liu’s 73.73. Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann flexed her skills to finish third with 69.69 points.
Both skaters are vying for a coveted position at next month’s Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan, where they hope to continue their momentum following stellar performances at the Cup of China earlier in this Grand Prix Series. This event marks a pivotal moment for Watanabe as she aims to clinch her second Grand Prix title, having tasted victory during her debut at Skate Canada in 2022.
“I was able to put out what I do in practice, so I was happy with that,” the 23-year-old Watanabe commented through an interpreter. She aspires to establish herself this season and believes that her triple Axel can be instrumental in achieving her goals.
The competition remains fierce among the Japanese women, as they vie for one of three Olympic spots for the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. Liu emerges as a formidable contender for the U.S. alongside two-time reigning champion Amber Glenn. Despite a minor hiccup resulting in an under-rotation on her back triple Lutz-triple loop combination, Liu remained optimistic about her performance early in the season.
With a packed crowd cheering inside the historic 1980 Herb Brooks Arena, Liu conveyed deep emotion after her skate, referring to her “Promise” short program as “timeless.” “It always feels fresh,” she added.
Wrapping up the women’s top five were Anastasiia Gubanova (68.07) and Kim Chaeyeon (67.28). Notably, Liu aims for her first Grand Prix title after an impressive نمایش, which saw her snag the world championship in nearby Boston last season after a brief retirement.
Watanabe’s opener, her “Tango Roxanne” short program, earned her an astonishing 9.60 points for the triple Axel. Looking ahead, she plans to unleash two more triple Axels in her free skate. “It’s all about repetition,” she explained, cementing her methodologies for succeeding at this elite level.
This event has further illuminated the growing excitement as American skater Starr Andrews thrilled her home crowd, placing sixth with 64.38 points, while 2023 world medallist Lee Haein regained her competitive edge among the Korean women, solidifying her aspirations for Olympic qualification.
