It’s a packed house at the top of the ladies’ event at Trophee Eric Bompard, as three of this season’s Grand Prix gold medalists battle each other for 1) bragging rights, and 2) a spot in the Grand Prix Final. Skate America winner Alissa Czisny will face Skate Canada winner Elizaveta Tuktamisheva and Cup of China winner Carolina Kostner. These three ladies are definitely the class of the field and should all be on the podium in one permutation or another.
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The intriguing dark horse might be former World junior champion Kanako Murakami, who had a very disappointing sixth-place finish at Cup of China. But if she can skate two solid programs, she’s got a great chance at spoiling the gold medalist party at the top.
Note: Examiner Figure Skating will be providing live play-by-play coverage of the ladies' free skate this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Visit the Examiner Figure Skating home page for links to the coverage when they go live.
GOLD Alissa Czisny USA– If everyone goes clean in Paris, it’s Czisny’s gold to win. The new, more confident Czisny eked out the win over Kostner at Skate America, but you can be sure that both Kostner and Tuktamisheva will give her quite a run for the top of the podium. She will have to skate cleaner than she did at Skate America to take her second gold this season.
WATCH: Czisny Skate America free skate
SILVER Elizaveta Tuktamisheva RUS– Without the seasoned performance quality or the maturity in skating that Czisny and Kostner have, the precocious Tuktamisheva will have to be consistent with her superior technical content in order to challenge for the gold. The gold is definitely within her reach, and it would be some coup for her to win her first two Grand Prix events in her first year as a senior.
WATCH: Tuktamisheva Skate Canada short program
WATCH: Tuktamisheva Skate Canada free skate
BRONZE Carolina Kostner ITA– Kostner’s easier-means-cleaner strategy is still working, as she once again skated two strong and consistent programs to win at Cup of China. This is her third Grand Prix event in five weeks (she’s one of the skaters who were offered the opportunity to skate in three), so you wonder if it’s been too much traveling and competition.
WATCH: Kostner Cup of China short program
WATCH: Kostner Cup of China free skate
4. Kanako Murakami JPN– There wasn’t quite the joy in her skating that we have grown accustomed to seeing when she took sixth at Cup of China. She’s attempting a more mature look this season, but it’s the inconsistency in her jumps that’s contributing to her sophomore slump so far. She used to be nothing but consistent, but it seems like the growing pains are catching up with her.
WATCH: Murakami Cup of China free skate
5. Mae Berenice Meite FRA– Coming off a seventh-place finish at NHK last week, Meite has shown a more consistent repertoire of jumps this season, including her triple toe-triple toe. A top-five finish will be quite an achievement for the youngster.
WATCH: Meite NHK Trophy short program
6. Viktoria Helgesson SWE– The surprise bronze medalist at Skate America, Helgesson will likely not be quite as fortunate at Trophee Eric Bompard this week.
WATCH: Helgesson Skate America free skate
7. Yretha Silete FRA– The current French champ is making her Grand Prix debut this week in her home country. She’s a talented skater who suffers from a good bit of inconsistency.
8. Lena Marrocco FRA– Taking the bronze at Ondrej Nepela Memorial earlier this season, Marrocco could finish quite a bit higher up if she can keep her jumps together.
9. Sonia Lafuente ESP– The 2010 Spanish champion finished ninth at Nebelhorn Trophy, her opening competition this season.
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