France’s Breakthrough, Japan’s Consistency, and Canada’s Veteran Champion Shine in Chongqing

By Bailey Li

The 2023 Cup of China marked the Grand Prix’s long-awaited return to China after four years,

held at the Huaxi Culture and Sports Center in Chongqing. The event not only reaffirmed Japan’s

strength in singles skating but also highlighted France’s new men’s champion and celebrated

Canada’s veteran-led victory in pairs. A lively crowd and high-level performances gave the

Grand Prix stop a renewed sense of significance.

Pairs: A Veteran’s Comeback at the Top

The spotlight in pairs once again fell on Canada’s Deanna Stellato-Dudek / Maxime Deschamps,

who claimed gold with a total score of 201.48 points (SP 70.39 + FS 131.09). They outscored

silver medalists Rebecca Ghilardi / Filippo Ambrosini of Italy (191.00) and China’s returning

pair Peng Cheng / Wang Lei, who delighted the home crowd with a bronzewinning 178.06

points.

Stellato-Dudek, once a U.S. prodigy in singles who retired early due to injury, returned to elite

skating in her 30s as a pair skater for Canada. Her performance in Chongqing proved that

experience and perseverance still rival youth at the highest level, reaffirming her well-known

belief that “age is no barrier to chasing dreams.”

Men’s Singles: France Breaks Through Japan’s Hold

In the men’s event, Adam Siao Him Fa of France captured his first Grand Prix gold with 298.38

points, maintaining the lead he built in the short program and delivering a composed free skate.

Japan’s reigning world champion Shoma Uno settled for silver with 279.98 points, while

Kazakhstan’s rising star Mikhail Shaidorov impressed again with 264.46 points to claim bronze.

Siao Him Fa’s triumph not only signaled France’s resurgence in men’s skating but also broke the

podium pattern long dominated by Japanese, American, and Korean skaters, adding fresh

intrigue to the season.

Women’s Singles: Yoshida’s First GP Gold

The women’s competition was a close contest among three top contenders. Japan’s Hana

Yoshida won her first Grand Prix title with 203.97 points (SP 64.65 + FS 139.32), narrowly

defeating compatriot Rinka Watanabe (203.22) and Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx (201.49).

Watanabe showed power and artistry but faltered slightly on a key triple jump landing in the free

skate, losing crucial points. Hendrickx relied on her trademark clean execution to stay on the

podium. Yoshida’s breakthrough marked her arrival as a new force in the women’s field.

Ice Dance: North American Depth and Precision

Canada’s Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier led the ice dance field with mature choreography and secure

execution, earning the gold medal. Fellow Canadians Marjorie Lajoie / Zachary Lagha took

silver with 206.02 points, while the U.S. duo Caroline Green / Michael Parsons delivered a

graceful free dance for 113.26 points, finishing third overall with 189.33.

The results underscored North America’s strength in ice dance and highlighted that precise

execution and stability can outweigh marginal differences in base difficulty.

Beyond the Scores: Stories of Change and Resilience

The 2023 Cup of China showed both the staying power of established nations and the rise of new

challengers. Siao Him Fa’s victory brought new energy to men’s skating; Yoshida’s gold

heralded a new Japanese contender; Peng Cheng and Wang Lei’s podium return warmed the

home crowd; and Stellato-Dudek’s continued success reminded the skating world that

perseverance and belief are as vital as technical mastery.

In Chongqing, the Grand Prix returned not just as a competition but as a stage where tradition

met renewal, adding fresh momentum to the 202324 season.