[ICE TIME] Ami Nakai and Shunsuke Nakamura Impress in the Junior Grand Prix Meet in Ankara

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Ami Nakai and Shunsuke Nakamura claimed silver medals in women's and men's singles respectively, for Japan at the Junior Grand Prix in Ankara, Turkey, over the weekend of September 20-22. Also, compatriots Sae Shimizu and Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda brought home a surprising bronze in pairs.

Nakai and Nakamura, both veterans on the JGP circuit, used their significant experience to make the podium with inspired free skates.

The 16-year-old Nakai, the world junior bronze medalist in 2023, led after the short program, but was overtaken in the free skate by South Korea's Yuseong Kim, who won the competition with a total score of 198.63 on Friday, September 20. Nakai's tally in second was 191.61, while France's Stefania Gladki took third at 182.32.

Men's Medalists at the Junior Grand Prix Meet

Nakamura, now 19, was second after the short program and held that spot despite finishing third in the free skate on Saturday, September 21. American Jacob Sanchez was victorious by a wide margin, racking up a mark of 220.25 to outdistance Nakamura (205.49) by nearly 15 points. Estonia's Arlet Leandi came in third on 196.08.

Nakai on Track for 3rd Straight Trip to JGP Final

Nakai, who is coached by rising star Kensuke Nakaniwa, made the JGP Final the past two seasons, and has a good shot at qualifying again. She skated to the soundtrack from "Cinderella" in her free skate and fell on her opening triple axel, but was strong the rest of the way. Nakai landed six triple jumps while earning level fours on two of her three spins.

She looked very polished and confident on the ice, something ISU commentator Mark Hanretty observed in his analysis of her free skate.

"Ami Nakai's maturity is really evident and you can see that layering on her development as an athlete just 16 years of age," Hanretty stated. "The work done with (choreographers) Kenji Miyamoto and David Wilson to story tell and exude emotion is really showcasing the improvement."

Nakai will try to lock up a berth in the JGP Final in her second assignment of the season in Wuxi, China, next month (October 9-12).

Japan's other entrant in the women's event in Ankara was 13-year-old Riria Kono, who finished 12th in her international debut with 142.18.

Nakamura Earns Plaudits for Approach

Nakamura, who came in fourth at last season's world junior championships, competed to "Lamentations of the Heart" and "lo Ci Saro" in his free skate and fell on his opening quad toe loop. He recovered to hit five clean triples and notch level fours on two of his spins.

Hanretty praised Nakamura and detailed how he tries to improve his skating.

"The finished position in itself is testament to his experience," Hanretty noted. "He is so well-seasoned. It was amazing. I read that this is an athlete who is obviously very conscientious and he watches different skaters for different techniques."

Added Hanretty, "He watches Ilia Malinin for quad toe. Kao Miura for quad sal. Shun Sato for quad lutz. He's conscientiously considering what he needs to do for the different quad jumps. This is an athlete that obviously wants to make the stage up to seniors."

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Author: Jack Gallagher

The author is a veteran sports journalist and one of the world's foremost figure skating experts. Find articles and podcasts by Jack on his author page, and find him on X (formerly Twitter) @sportsjapan.