Local favourite Kim Chae-yeon of South Korea won the Four Continents figure skating competition with a near-flawless free skate on Sunday to prevent an American sweep of the podium in Seoul.
Kim, who led after the short program, produced a season’s best score of 148.36 in the free skate to finish with a total of 222.38 points.
Bradie Tennell of the United States also had a season-best free skate with 137.80 points and was second with a score of 204.38.
American Sarah Everhardt was third with 200.03 points, edging out compatriot Alysa Lu who was fourth with 198.55.
WATCH l Kim captures Four Continents title:
Local favourite Kim Chae-yeon of South Korea skated to gold at the ISU Four Continents championships in Seoul.
Montreal’s Sara-Maude Dupuis scored 116.01 on Sunday and finished the event as top Canadian in 10th.
Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., placed 12th in the field of 21 (116.77 in free skate) followed by Ottawa’s Katherine Medland Spence in 14th (103.93).
WATCH l Dupuis tops Canadian contingent in 10th:
After posting a new personal best score in the short program, Montreal’s Sara-Maude Dupuis set another personal best by finishing with 178.36 points, which was good enough for tenth place at the ISU Four Continents championships in Seoul.
Skating to Whisperers from the Heart and Love Dance, Kim was the last skater to take to the ice. She started her routine with a double axel and then added six clean triple jumps to bring the hometown crowd to its feet.
“I was a little nervous because I wanted to show my best for the home crowd and I am glad I was able to do that,” Kim said.
She becomes only the third South Korean skater to win the Four Continents title following Lee Hae-in in 2023 and Yuna Kim in 2009.
WATCH | Full replay coverage of women’s free skate on Sunday:
Watch the women’s free program at the ISU Four Continents Championships 2025 in Seoul.
Fall on triple salchow
Defending champion Mone Chiba, who was second after the short program, struggled with her free skate and dropped down to sixth place with a total of 195.08.
The 19-year-old Japanese skater started off well with a triple flip, triple toeloop combination but fell on her triple salchow and on the triple flip.
Skating to “Nessun Dorma,” Tennell, who is coming off an ankle injury, opened with a triple lutz, triple toeloop combination and then added five more triple jumps.
“I was really happy with my performance today because it’s been a long time since I’ve given a performance like that,” said two-time US champion Tennell who moved up from fifth place.
“With all the struggles of the last few years it was a very satisfying moment to finish a program and feel such joy after skating,” Tennell said. “There’s been a lot of frustration and tears this season and the past few seasons.”
Everhardt’s free skate featured seven triple jumps including her opening triple lutz.
It’s my first ISU Championship,” said the 18-year-old Everhardt. “It’s a fun experience being in a big event, learning from the event and learning how things work. And I’m glad I was able to fight and show a good performance here.”
WATCH | Full replay coverage of Sunday’s gala:
Watch the exhibition gala at the ISU Four Continents Championships 2025 in Seoul.
