In brief
Japanese skater Mao Shimada scored a personal‑best 82.11 in her short program, positioning her first on the leaderboard for the Grand Prix Series debut in Kelowna. Men’s champion Rio Nakata opened with a strong short program but fell off the top spot after errors in the free skate, finishing second overall. The event highlighted the technical challenges faced by the two domestic stars amid tight competition from international contenders.
On October 31, 2026, the Skate Canada International gala in Kelowna featured Japan’s emerging star Mao Shimada and veteran competitor Rio Nakata as the top performances on the men's and women's ice.
Shimada opened the winter of October with a technically demanding short program that earned her a personal best of 82.11 points. The eighteen‑year‑old landed a triple Axel, a triple‑Lutz‑triple‑toe loop combination, and an array of clean spins, while understating a triple flip that contributed to a modest margin over top competitors.
"I'm really surprised by the score," Shimada told reporters after the routine.
"It was 82 points with still room to improve after I under‑rotated my triple flip, and that made me even happier," she added, highlighting the potential for further improvement despite the high score.
Women’s field included U.S. skater Isabeau Levito, who placed second with 78.50, Estonia’s Niina Petrokina on third with 77.24, and Japanese compatriot Saki Miyake in fourth with 71.95. These results established the competitive landscape into which Shimada’s performance must be evaluated.
In the men’s competition, Rio Nakata began the evening dominating the short program, securing the top spot after Friday’s segment. However, his free skate fell short of expectations, as two quadruple toe loops were downgraded to doubles, resulting in a 156.61 score and a fourth‑place position for the segment.
After completing the free program, Nakata expressed frustration in the press conference.
"It’s really pathetic not being able to finish things off here. I’m frustrated and I feel I’m weak," he said, followed by, "I’ve only been aiming for first place and frankly second doesn’t make me happy. I want to push myself more."
The finished standings placed Nakata second overall with a cumulative total of 249.25 points, surpassed by French skater Kevin Aymoz who topped both segments with 258.43. Estonian skater Mihhail Selevko captured third at 248.66, while Japanese teammate Kazuki Tomono finished sixth overall in 222.85.
Shimada’s successful short program set a high bar for the remainder of the series, while Nakata’s mixed results underscore the volatility that can arise even among seasoned athletes in the high‑stakes Grand Prix circuit of figure skating. The performances illustrate the fine line between technical execution and competitive outcome that defines the sport at the international level.
