2022 MK John Wilson Trophy

The 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy was a figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU), organized and hosted by British Ice Skating, and the fourth event of the 2022–23 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It was held at IceSheffield in Sheffield, England, in the United Kingdom, from 11 to 13 November 2022. Medals were awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. Skaters earned points based on their results, and the top skaters or teams in each discipline at the end of the season were then invited to then compete at the 2022–23 Grand Prix Final in Turin, Italy.^[1] Daniel Grassl of Italy won the men's event, Mai Mihara of Japan won the women's event, Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier of the United States won the pairs event, and Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy won the ice dance event.

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of seven events sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU) and held during the autumn: six qualifying events and the Grand Prix Final. This allows skaters to perfect their programs earlier in the season, as well as compete against the skaters with whom they will later compete at the World Championships. This series also provides the viewing public with additional televised skating, which was in high demand. Skaters earn points based on their results in their respective competitions and the top skaters or teams in each discipline are invited to compete at the Grand Prix Final.^[2]

On 21 July 2022, the ISU announced the cancellation of the 2022 Cup of China due to China's ongoing travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[3] The MK John Wilson Trophy was selected as its replacement. This was the first time that the United Kingdom had hosted a Grand Prix event. Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee of the Sheffield City Council, stated: "Hosting this prestigious international skating series event is really exciting for Sheffield and the UK. We can’t wait to welcome the world’s top figure skaters and their fans from across the globe to show them what our amazing city has to offer."^[4] The MK John Wilson Trophy was held at IceSheffield in Sheffield, England, from 11 to 13 November 2022.^[1]

The ISU published the preliminary list of entrants on 22 July 2022.^[5]

Men competing in single skating first performed their short programs on Friday, 11 November, while women performed theirs on Saturday, 12 November.^[12] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 40 seconds,^[13] the short program had to include the following elements:

For men: one double or triple Axel; one triple or quadruple jump; one jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump, two triple jumps, or a quadruple jump and a double jump or triple jump; one flying spin; one camel spin or sit spin with a change of foot; one spin combination with a change of foot; and a step sequence using the full ice surface.^[14]

For women: one double or triple Axel; one triple jump; one jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump, or two triple jumps; one flying spin; one layback spin, sideways leaning spin, camel spin, or sit spin without a change of foot; one spin combination with a change of foot; and one step sequence using the full ice surface.^[15]

Men performed their free skates on Saturday, 12 November, while women performed theirs on Sunday, 13 November.^[12] The free skate for both men and women could last no more than 4 minutes,^[13] and had to include the following: seven jump elements, of which one had to be an Axel-type jump; three spins, of which one had to be a spin combination, one a flying spin, and one a spin with only one position; a step sequence; and a choreographic sequence.^[16]

Couples competing in pair skating performed their short programs on Friday, 11 November.^[12] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 40 seconds,^[13] it had to include the following elements: one pair lift, one double or triple twist lift, one double or triple throw jump, one double or triple solo jump, one solo spin combination with a change of foot, one death spiral, and a step sequence using the full ice surface.^[17]

Couples performed their free skates on Saturday, 12 November.^[12] The free skate could last no more than 4 minutes,^[13] three pair lifts, of which one has to be a twist lift; two different throw jumps; one solo jump; one jump combination or sequence; one pair spin combination; one death spiral; and a choreographic sequence.^[18]

Couples competing in ice dance performed their rhythm dances on Saturday, 12 November.^[12] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 50 seconds,^[13] the rhythm dance this season had to include at least two different Latin dance styles. Examples of applicable dance styles included the following: salsa, bachata, merengue, mambo, cha-cha-cha, rhumba, and samba. The required pattern dance element had to be skated to a different Latin style.^[19] The rhythm dance had to include the following elements: one pattern dance step sequence, one choreographic rhythm sequence, one dance lift, one set of sequential twizzles, and one step sequence.^[19]

Couples then performed their free dances on Sunday, 13 November.^[12] The free dance could last no longer than 4 minutes,^[13] and had to include the following: three short dance lifts or one short dance lift and one combination lift, one dance spin, one set of synchronized twizzles, one step sequence in hold, one turns sequence while on one skate and not touching, and three choreographic elements.^[20]

All of the technical elements in any figure skating performance – such as jumps and spins – were assigned a predetermined base point value and then scored by a panel of nine judges on a scale from –5 to 5 based on their quality of execution.^[21] The judging panel's Grade of Execution (GOE) was determined by calculating the trimmed mean (the average after discarding the highest and lowest scores), and this GOE was added to the base value to come up with the final score for each element. The panel's scores for all elements were added together to generate a total elements score.^[22] At the same time, the judges evaluated each performance based on five program components – skating skills, transitions, performance, composition, and interpretation of the music – and assigned a score from 0.25 to 10 in 0.25-point increments. The judging panel's final score for each program component was also determined by calculating the trimmed mean. Those scores were then multiplied by the factor shown on the following chart; the results were added together to generate a total program component score.^[23]

Deductions were applied for certain violations like time infractions, stops and restarts, or falls.^[25] The total elements score and total program component score were added together, minus any deductions, to generate a final performance score for each skater or team.^[26]

Daniel Grassl of Italy won the men's event. Despite falling on a quadruple flip during his free skate, he successfully performed a quadruple Lutz, two triple Axels, and received top levels on his spins and step sequence. Deniss Vasiļjevs of Latvia won the silver medal, with a step sequence and spins in his short program that Izumi Yoneyama of Anything GOEs described as "showcasing his strengths as a performer, artist, and athlete".^[28] He fell on his quadruple Lutz in his free skate, but received top levels on his spins and skating scores. Shun Sato of Japan finished in third place, successfully performing a quadruple Lutz in his short program while stumbling on his quadruple toe loop. In his free skate, he suffered a fall on quadruple Lutz, but successfully landed a high quality quadruple toe loop.^[28]

Mai Mihara of Japan won the women's event. Her spins and step sequence in the short program received top levels. According to Izumi Yoneyama of Anything GOEs, Mihara "landed her jumps with seeming effortlessness and ease" in her free skate.^[28] Isabeau Levito of the United States finished in second place. Her free skate featured a triple Lutz-triple loop jump combination, solid jumps, and strong choreography, earning her a new personal best score. Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia finished in third place. Her short program featured a "lyricism which matched the music chosen for her program",^[28] although she had some more difficulty with her free skate, where two of her spins only received level two evaluations.^[28]

Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier of the United States won the pairs event, twenty points ahead of Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii of Italy, who finished in second place. Having already won the 2022 Skate America, Knierim and Frazier guaranteed themselves a spot at the 2022 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. They received season best scores in both their short program and free skate. Conti and Macii had errors with their free skate, including with their side-by-side triple toe loops and throw triple Salchow. They also missed their third lift, but still showed "skillful storytelling and performance capabilities".^[28] Letizia Roscher and Luis Schuster of Germany finished in third place.^[28]

Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy won the ice dance event. Their rhythm dance featured a "vibrant performance" of rhumba and samba elements.^[28] Their lead over Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain was less than one point. Their free dance received a new personal best score. Both performances from Fear and Gibson were well received by the British audience. Their free skate was set to music by Lady Gaga, and despite a fall toward the end, it was an otherwise strong performance. Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha of Canada finished in third place. Their sequential twizzles in the rhythm dance received level four scores, as did their dance lifts in the free dance.^[28]

• "Special Regulations & Technical Rules – Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance 2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.

• 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy at the International Skating Union
• 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy at Skating Scores