In brief
In Kelowna, Canada, Shimada scored 82.11 points in the women’s short program to sit first, earning a personal best at her Grand Prix debut. In the men’s competition, Rio Nakata finished second overall despite a fourth‑place free skate, as France’s Kevin Aymoz won the event.
In Kelowna, Canada, on Sunday, 31 October 2026, Japanese skater Mao Shimada opened the skateProgramen of the 2026 Skate Canada International with a personal‑best short program, taking first place in the women’s competition. Her star‑performed routine included a triple axel, a triple lutz‑triple toe loop combination, and perfect spins for a score of 82.11 points.
Isabeau Levito of the United States was second with 78.50 points, Niina Petrokina of Estonia third with 77.24, and Japan’s Saki Miyake fourth with 71.95.
Shimada, who turned 18 earlier this week, reflected on the result:
"I'm really surprised by the score," she said, before adding, "It was 82 points with still room to improve after I under‑rotated my triple flip, and that made me even happier."
She also noted that she had been unable to compete at the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics because of the International Skating Union's age regulation change in June 2022. Her maiden quadruple toe loop was a promising sign for the future of Japanese women’s figure skating.
Men’s Competition: Nakata Stuns and Aymoz Wins
In the men’s event, two‑time reigning junior world champion Rio Nakata received a score of 156.61 in the short program, keeping him fourth in the free skate with 249.25 overall. French skater Kevin Aymoz captured the title with a total of 258.43, winning both segments of the competition. Nakata, also 18, had a strong start with a quad salchow but turned his next two quadruple toe loops into double jumps, hurting his final standing.
Nakata admitted after the free skate that he felt the performance fell short:
"It's really pathetic not being able to finish things off here. I'm frustrated and I feel I'm weak," he said. "I've only been aiming for first place and frankly second doesn't make me happy. I want to push myself more."
Estonian skater Mihhail Selevko placed third with 248.66 points, having topped the free skate with 169.08. Japan’s Kazuki Tomono finished sixth overall with 222.85.
Overall, the event showcased Japanese talent in both the men’s and women’s disciplines, setting the stage for a competitive Grand Prix season ahead of Las Vegas, Paris, and Ritten in the coming weeks.
