Sumiyoshi Rion snatched victory in the ISU Challenger Series Lombardia Trophy in Bergamo, Italy on Saturday (13 September) with overnight leader Alysa Liu slipping to fourth place.
The 22-year-old Japanese, lying third after the short program, scored 140.72 in her free skate to vault to the top of the scoresheets with a total of 209.59.
Liu carried a lead of less than half a point over U.S. compatriot Sarah Everhardt from Friday’s short program. Afterwards, the reigning world champion admitted to wearing one new boot and one old one, and vowed there would be more to come from her in the jumping department – including a triple Axel – once the issue was resolved.
With her program and costume still works in progress, the 20-year-old’s jumping in her routine to a Lady Gaga medley was safe rather than spectacular. A popped triple Lutz late on was the only major error which was greeted by a rueful grimace.
Nakai Ami, fifth overnight, moved up to second place with a fine free skate. Her total of 206.04 was just over three and a half points down on her compatriot.
Everhardt took third with a total of 199.91 after scoring 130.75 for her free skate. Home skater Lara Naki Gutmann was behind Liu in fifth with 195.95.
While this was far from an ideal start to Liu’s season, with the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games five months away, she will hope to resolve her boot issue before she makes her 2025-26 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating bow in the Cup of China in late October.
The Lombardia Trophy ends on Sunday with men’s world champion Ilia Malinin holding a big lead over Kagiyama Yuma into the free skate.