The Grand Prix skating season kicks off in France, marking the start of a new Olympic cycle with changes in the competitive landscape due to retirements and breaks post-Milano Cortina Games. Familiar faces return, while others step back, creating opportunities for emerging contenders. The Grand Prix de France in Angers opens the six-event circuit, followed by competitions in Canada, China, the United States, Finland, and Japan, leading to the Grand Prix Final in Chongqing, China in December. Notable absences this season include Olympic women’s champion Alysa Liu and retired Olympic silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto. Yuma Kagiyama, the men’s silver medalist in Milan, will sit out the season to rediscover his joy for skating. Meanwhile, Ilia Malinin and Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov are set to compete. Pairs skating sees a significant shift with Olympic champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara retiring, leaving room for other pairs like Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava of Georgia and Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany to shine. Ice dance features reigning champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France, aiming to solidify their dominance in the new cycle. Notably, Madison Chock and Evan Bates have opted out of this season, providing an opportunity for other teams to make their mark.
