FIGURE SKATING Preview: Hanyu highlights Skate Canada International this weekend

2014 and 2018 Olympic Champion Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)

The ISU Grand Prix is in full swing, with the North American segment finishing at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C. this week before moving on to Europe. The top entries:

Men:
● Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) ~ 2014-18 Olympic Champion, 2014-17 World Champion
● Matteo Rizzo (ITA) ~ 7th at 2019 Worlds
● Deniss Vasiljevs (LAT) ~ 6th at 2018 Worlds

Women:
● Gabriele Daleman (CAN) ~ 2017 Worlds bronze medalist
● Marin Honda (JPN) ~ 2016 World Junior Champion
● Rika Kihara (JPN) ~ 4th at 2019 World Champs
● Evgenia Medvedeva (RUS) ~ 2016-17 World Champion; 2018 Olympic bronze
● Alexandra Trusova (RUS) ~ 2018-19 World Junior Champion
Bradie Tennell (USA) ~ 6th/7th at 2018-29 Worlds; second at Skate America

Pairs:
● Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro (CAN) ~ 6th/7th at 2018-19 Worlds
● Aleksandra Boikova/Dmitrii Kozlovskii (RUS) ~ 6th at 2019 Worlds
● Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov (RUS) ~ 3rd/2rd/2rd at 2017-18-19 Worlds
Alexa Scimeca Knierim/Chris Knierim (USA) ~ 2015 & 2017 U.S. Champions

Ice Dance:
● Piper Gilles/Paul Poirer (CAN) ~ 8-6-8-8-6-7 at last six World Champs
Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA) ~ 10th & 9th at 2018-19 Worlds
Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue (USA) ~ 3rd-2nd at 2018-19 Worlds; won Skate America

While two-time OG champ Hanyu is the headliner, Medvedeva will be a major focus. She left for Canada to train with famed coach Brian Orser after the 2017-18 season and won the bronze medal at the 2019 Worlds, with her best-ever score of 223.80. Still just 19, her progress will be monitored closely.

The usual prize money is available: $18,000-13,000-9,000-3,000-2,000 for the first five placewinners. Look for results here.