Sapporo (Japan) (AFP)

Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, quadruple world champions and 2018 Olympic vice-champions, became the first ice dancers to achieve more than 90 points, with 90.03 pts in the short program of the NHK Trophy in Sapporo on Friday.

Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron skated their "rhythmic dance", new name of the short program, on the catchy tunes of the famous musical "Fame", dressed in their pink and turquoise-blue outfits, very marked 80s, ideal for their theme.

In Grenoble for their first international release in early November, they had achieved 88.69 points. In Japan, they improved their score by almost a half point.

In the men's event, Kevin Aymoz took second place in the short program with 91.47 points, far behind the inaccessible Japanese Yuzuru Hanyu (109.34), two-time Olympic champion (2014 and 2018).

The skater of Echirolles can hope to hang a first qualification for the Finale of the Grand Prix, planned in Turin (5-7 December) after the free program Saturday.

Results of the first day

DANCE ON ICE

Rhythmic dance

1. Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) 90.03 pts

2. Alexandra Stepanova / Ivan Bukin (RUS) 84.06

3. Charlene Guignard / Marco Fabri (ITA) 82.13

...

COUPLES

Short program

1. Sui Wenjing / Han Cong (CHN) 81.27 pts

2. Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro 71.21

3. Anastasia Mishina / Aleksandr Galliamov 69.00

...

LADIES

Short program

1. Alena Kostornaia (RUS) 85.04 pts

2. RIka Kihira (JPN) 79.89

3. Karen Chen (USA) 67.21

...

11. Mae Berenice Meite (FRA) 49.77

GENTLEMEN

Short program

1. Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) 109.34 pts

2. Kevin Aymoz (FRA) 91.47

3. Sergei Voronov (RUS) 88.63

...

© 2019 AFP