Nathalie Pechalat

Daisuke Takahashi made more history on Saturday when he became the first Japanese man to win the ISU figure skating Grand Prix Final after countrywoman Mao Asada earlier won a third women's gold.

Japan's Mao Asada blew away her rivals to claim a third ISU Grand Prix figure skating series final title on the ice which will stage the 2014 Winter Olympic Games here on Saturday.

Former world champions Daisuke Takahashi and Mao Asada put Japan top after the opening day of the ISU Grand Prix figure skating series finals being staged in 2014 Winter Olympics host city Sochi on Friday.

US figure skating champion Ashley Wagner and Japan's Takahito Mura lit up the Paris-Bercy arena on their way to gold in the Trophee Bompard here on Saturday.

Rising Russian star Julia Lipnitskaia is looking to upset American hopes of a Paris double after leading the women's short programme Friday ahead of Ashley Wagner at the Trophee Bompard, the fifth in the six-leg ISU Grand Prix figure skating series.

Rising Russian star Julia Lipnitskaia is looking to upset American hopes of a Paris double after leading the women's short programme Friday ahead of Ashley Wagner at the Trophee Bompard, the fifth in the six-leg ISU Grand Prix figure skating series.

Japan dominated the singles categories at the Cup of China on Saturday, clinching both men and women's titles in a tournament they had considered pulling out of due to safety concerns.

Chinese figure skating duo Pang Qing and Tong Jian are poised to seize the pairs title at the Cup of China after a welcome return to form on Friday, while the Japanese team had mixed fortunes in the singles categories.

Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir turned on the glamour of 1950s Hollywood to reclaim their ice dancing crown at the world figure skating championships here on Thursday.

Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada reclaimed their ice dancing title at the world figure skating championships here on Thursday.

Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada reclaimed their ice dancing title at the world figure skating championships here on Thursday.

Swashbuckling Alena Leonova left her rivals in her wake as she grabbed a surprise lead after the women's short programme at the world figure skating championships here on Thursday.

Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir opened their bid to reclaim their title from US rivals Meryl Davis and Charlie White by leading the short dance at the world figure skating championships here on Wednesday.

Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir opened their bid to reclaim their title from US rivals Meryl Davis and Charlie White by leading the short dance at the world figure skating championships here on Wednesday.

Italy's Carolina Kostner stayed on track for a fourth continental title Friday as France's Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat defended their ice dancing title at the European figure skating championships.

French ice dancers Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat successfully defended their title at the European figure skating championships here on Friday.

Russian superstar Yevgeny Plushenko will be the star attraction as he looks to test his form for a possible challenge at the 2014 Olympics during the European figure skating championships which get underway here on Monday.

World champion Patrick Chan and Russian teen Elizaveta Tuktamisheva moved closer to clinching their tickets to the ISU Grand Prix figure skating final after leading the men's and women's short programmes in the Paris leg of the GP series here on Friday.

World champion Patrick Chan will be bidding to seal his berth in the elite ISU Grand Prix figure skating final in his native Canada next month at the Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris-Bercy starting Friday.

Reigning world champion Patrick Chan and 2010 Winter Olympic ice dance champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir will try to win on home ice at this week's Skate Canada International.