ISU Junior Grand Prix in Poland

History

The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating (JGP) was established by the International Skating Union (ISU) in 1997 and consists of a series of seven international figure skating competitions exclusively for junior-level skaters. The locations of the Junior Grand Prix events change every year. While all seven competitions feature the men's, women's, and ice dance events, only four competitions each season feature the pairs event. Skaters earn points based on their results each season, and the top skaters or teams in each discipline are then invited to compete at the Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.

Skaters are eligible to compete on the junior-level circuit if they are at least 13 years old before 1 July of the respective season, but not yet 19 (for single skaters), 21 (for men and women in ice dance and women in pair skating), or 23 (for men in pair skating). Competitors are chosen by their respective skating federations. The number of entries allotted to each ISU member nation in each discipline is determined by their results at the prior World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

Poland hosted its first Junior Grand Prix competition in 2000 in Gdańsk. Ryan Bradley of the United States won the men's event, Anna Jurkiewicz of Poland won the women's event, Julia Karbovskaya and Sergei Slavnov of Russia won the pairs event, and Elena Romanovskaya and Alexander Grachev, also of Russia, won the ice dance event.

Poland has twice hosted the Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, the culminating event of the Junior Grand Prix series. The 1999 Junior Grand Prix Final was held in Gdańsk. Gao Song of China won the men's event, Deanna Stellato of the United States won the women's event, Aljona Savchenko and Stanislav Morozov of Ukraine won the pairs event, and Natalia Romaniuta and Daniil Barantsev of Russia won the ice dance event. The 2007 Junior Grand Prix Final was also held in Gdańsk. Adam Rippon and Mirai Nagasu, both of the United States, won the men's and women's events, respectively; and Maria Monko and Ilia Tkachenko of Russia won the ice dance event. Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov of Russia originally won the pairs event, but when a positive drug test from Larionov revealed the presence of a banned substance, they were stripped of their gold medals, and Ksenia Krasilnikova and Konstantin Bezmaternikh, also of Russia, were elevated to pairs champions.

The Croatian Skating Federation was scheduled to host the fifth event of the 2022 Junior Grand Prix Series in Zagreb, but cancelled the event for "logistical reasons." The French Federation of Ice Sports had originally volunteered to host a replacement event in Grenoble; however, it, too, was cancelled. The event was reallocated to Poland, where the Polish Figure Skating Association was already scheduled to host the fifth 2022 Junior Grand Prix competition in Gdańsk. Thus, two Junior Grand Prix competitions were held back-to-back at the Hala Olivia in Gdańsk.

Medalists

Not pictured: Lukáš Václavík of Slovakia (men's singles)

Men's singles

In 2021, Mikhail Shaidorov became the first skater from Kazakhstan to win an ISU Junior Grand Prix medal since Denis Ten in 2008.

Women's singles

Pairs

Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov of Russia originally won the gold medal at the 2007 Junior Grand Prix Final, but they were later disqualified due to a positive doping test from Larionov.

Ice dance

In 2021, Angelina Kudryavtseva and Ilia Karankevich became the first skaters from Cyprus to win an ISU Junior Grand Prix medal in any discipline.

References

References

1. "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating".
2. (15 July 2024). "Communication No. 2655: Single & Pair Skating".
3. "Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2024/25 – Announcement".
4. (24 July 2010). "Competition Results – Ksenia Krasilnikova/Konstantin Bezmaternikh".
5. (24 February 2022). "Decisions of the ISU Council".
6. (29 July 2022). "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Grenoble (FRA) reallocated to Gdansk (POL)".
7. (16 August 2022). "2022 Junior Grand Prix Overview".
8. "1999/2000 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final".
9. "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating – Gdansk, Poland".
10. "2001/2002 ISU Junior Grand Prix Series, 4th event".
11. "2003 Junior Grand Prix – Gdansk".
12. "2005 Gdansk Cup".
13. "2007 Junior Grand Prix Final".
14. "2009 JGP Torun Cup".
15. "2011 JGP Baltic Cup".
16. "2013 JGP Baltic Cup".
17. "2015 JGP Torun Cup".
18. "2017 JGP Poland".
19. "2019 JGP Baltic Cup".
20. "2021 JGP Baltic Cup".
21. "2022 JGP Solidarity Cup".
22. "2022 JGP Baltic Cup".
23. "2023 JGP Solidarity Cup".
24. "2024 JGP Solidarity Cup".
25. "2025 JGP Solidarity Cup".
26. Flade, Tatjana. (12 June 2011). "Vera Bazarova & Yuri Larionov on track for 2014".
27. (4 October 2021). "Sofia Akateva (RUS) continues to push the limits at ISU Junior Grand Prix in Gdansk (POL)".