Cup of China
StatusActive
GenreGrand Prix competition
FrequencyAnnual
CountryChina
First2003
Prev2024 Cup of China
Next2025 Cup of China
OrganisedChinese Skating Association

The Cup of China is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU), organized and hosted by the Chinese Skating Association (traditional Chinese: 中國滑冰協會; simplified Chinese: 中国滑冰协会), and part of the ISU Grand Prix Series. The first competition was held in 2003 in Beijing as a replacement for the Bofrost Cup on Ice. The Cup of China has been interrupted three times in its history: in 2018 when the Chinese Skating Association elected to forgo hosting any international skating events in order to prepare its venues for the 2022 Winter Olympics, and then in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medals are awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. Skaters earn points based on their results at the qualifying competitions each season, and the top skaters or teams in each discipline are invited to then compete at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Three skaters are tied for winning the most titles in men's singles (with two each): Jeremy Abbott of the United States, Jin Boyang of China, and Shun Sato of Japan. Four skaters are tied for winning the most titles in women's singles (also with two each): Mao Asada of Japan, Amber Glenn of the United States, Irina Slutskaya of Russia, and Yuna Kim of South Korea. Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo hold the record for winning the most titles in pair skating (with four); while Nathalie Péchalat and Fabian Bourzat of France, and Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States, are tied for winning the most titles in ice dance (with three each).

History

Beginning with the 1995–96 season, the International Skating Union (ISU) launched the Champions Series, which was later renamed the Grand Prix Series. At its inception, this consisted of five qualifying competitions and the Champions Series Final. This allowed skaters to perfect their programs earlier in the season, as well as compete against the skaters with whom they would later compete at the World Championships.[1] This series also provided the viewing public with additional televised skating, which was in high demand.[1] Skaters earned points based on their results in their respective competitions and the top skaters or teams in each discipline were invited to compete at the Champions Series Final.[1]

The first edition of the Cup of China was held in 2003 in Beijing. It replaced the Bofrost Cup on Ice, which had been one of the founding events of the Grand Prix Series, after the Chinese Skating Association reached a more lucrative television contract with the ISU.[2] Timothy Goebel of the United States won this inaugural men's event, Elena Liashenko of Ukraine won the women's event, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China won the pairs event, and Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov of Russia won the ice dance event.[3]

In 2018, the Chinese Skating Association declined to host any international skating events so as to prepare its venues for the 2022 Winter Olympics.[4] Finland hosted a replacement event, the Grand Prix of Helsinki, instead.[5]

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a number of modifications were made to the structure of the 2020 Cup of China, with only skaters from China permitted to compete.[6] On 9 July 2020, the General Administration of Sport of China announced that no international sporting events would be held in China in 2020 except for test events for the 2022 Winter Olympics.[7] The ISU announced on 13 July that the 2020 Cup of China would be held as scheduled due to its connection to the Beijing test event, the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.[8] On 29 October 2020, the Chinese Skating Association announced that the Cup of China would be held with no audience presence.[9]

The 2021 Cup of China, originally scheduled to be held in Chongqing, was cancelled because of travel and quarantine restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] The Gran Premio d'Italia in Turin served as its replacement.[11] On 21 July 2022, it was confirmed that the 2022 Cup of China was cancelled due to China's ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions.[12] The MK John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield, England, in the United Kingdom, served as its replacement.[13]

The 2026 Cup of China is scheduled to be held from 6 to 8 November in Shenzhen.[14]

Medalists

Men's singles

Men's event medalists
YearLocationGoldSilverBronzeRef.
2003BeijingTimothy GoebelBrian JoubertLi Chengjiang[3]
2004Jeffrey ButtleLi ChengjiangStefan Lindemann[15]
2005Emanuel SandhuStéphane LambielAndrei Griazev[16]
2006NanjingEvan LysacekSergei DavydovEmanuel Sandhu[17]
2007HarbinJohnny WeirEvan LysacekStéphane Lambiel[18]
2008BeijingJeremy AbbottStephen CarriereTomáš Verner[19]
2009Nobunari OdaEvan LysacekSergei Voronov[20]
2010Takahiko KozukaBrandon MrozTomáš Verner[21]
2011ShanghaiJeremy AbbottNobunari OdaSong Nan[22]
2012Tatsuki MachidaDaisuke TakahashiSergei Voronov[23]
2013BeijingYan HanMaxim KovtunTakahiko Kozuka[24]
2014ShanghaiMaxim KovtunYuzuru HanyuRichard Dornbush[25]
2015BeijingJavier FernándezJin BoyangYan Han[26]
2016Patrick ChanSergei Voronov[27]
2017Mikhail KolyadaMax Aaron[28]
2018No competition held[4]
2019ChongqingJin BoyangYan HanMatteo Rizzo[29]
2020Chen Yudong[30]
2021Competitions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[10]
2022[12]
2023Adam Siao Him FaShoma UnoMikhail Shaidorov[31]
2024Shun SatoMikhail ShaidorovAdam Siao Him Fa[32]
2025Daniel GrasslMikhail Shaidorov[33]

Women's singles

Women's event medalists
YearLocationGoldSilverBronzeRef.
2003BeijingElena LiashenkoYoshie OndaFumie Suguri[3]
2004Irina SlutskayaViktoria VolchkovaJoannie Rochette[15]
2005Mao AsadaShizuka Arakawa[16]
2006NanjingJúlia SebestyénYukari NakanoEmily Hughes[17]
2007HarbinYuna KimCaroline ZhangCarolina Kostner[18]
2008BeijingMiki AndoLaura Lepistö[19]
2009Akiko SuzukiKiira KorpiJoannie Rochette[20]
2010Miki AndoAkiko SuzukiAlena Leonova[21]
2011ShanghaiCarolina KostnerMirai NagasuAdelina Sotnikova[22]
2012Mao AsadaYulia LipnitskayaKiira Korpi[23]
2013BeijingAnna PogorilayaAdelina SotnikovaCarolina Kostner[24]
2014ShanghaiElizaveta TuktamyshevaYulia LipnitskayaKanako Murakami[25]
2015BeijingMao AsadaRika HongoElena Radionova[26]
2016Elena RadionovaKaetlyn OsmondElizaveta Tuktamysheva[27]
2017Alina ZagitovaWakaba HiguchiElena Radionova[28]
2018No competition held[4]
2019ChongqingAnna ShcherbakovaSatoko MiyaharaElizaveta Tuktamysheva[29]
2020Chen HongyiAngel LiJin Minzhi[30]
2021Competitions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[10]
2022[12]
2023Hana YoshidaRinka WatanabeLoena Hendrickx[31]
2024Amber GlennMone ChibaKim Chae-yeon[32]
2025Alysa LiuRinka Watanabe[33]

Pairs

Pairs event medalists
YearLocationGoldSilverBronzeRef.
2003Beijing[3]
2004[15]
2005[16]
2006Nanjing[17]
2007Harbin[18]
2008Beijing[19]
2009[20]
2010[21]
2011Shanghai[22]
2012[23]
2013Beijing[24]
2014Shanghai[25]
2015Beijing[26]
2016[27]
2017[28]
2018No competition held[4]
2019Chongqing[29]
2020[30]
2021Competitions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[10]
2022[12]
2023[31]
2024[32]
2025[33]

Ice dance

Ice dance event medalists
YearLocationGoldSilverBronzeRef.
2003Beijing[3]
2004[15]
2005[16]
2006Nanjing[17]
2007Harbin[18]
2008Beijing[19]
2009[20]
2010[21]
2011Shanghai[22]
2012[23]
2013Beijing[24]
2014Shanghai[25]
2015Beijing[26]
2016[27]
2017[28]
2018No competition held[4]
2019Chongqing[29]
2020[30]
2021Competitions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[10]
2022[12]
2023[31]
2024[32]
2025[33]

Records

DisciplineMost titles
Skater(s)No.YearsRef.
Men's singles22008;
2011		[34]
2019–20[35]
2024–25
Women's singles22012;
2015		[36]
2024–25
2004–05[37]
2007–08[38]
Pairs42003–04;
2006;
2009		[39]
Ice dance32004;
2007;
2009		[40]
32010;
2012–13		[41]

References

  1. ^ Hines, James R. (2006). Figure Skating: A History. University of Illinois Press. pp. 246–247; 332–335. ISBN 978-0-252-07286-4.
  2. ^ "Bofrost Cup on Ice 2003". Golden Skate. 11 November 2003. Archived from the original on 30 October 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2006.
  3. ^ "2003 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 6 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  4. ^ "China will not host any ISU event during 2018–19 season, CSA says". Xinhuanet. 13 June 2018. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  5. ^ "ISU announces 2018-19 Grand Prix assignments". Figure Skaters Online. 28 June 2018. Archived 16 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  6. ^ Associated Press (4 August 2020). "Grand Prix figure skating series downsized to localized events". CBC. Archived 17 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  7. ^ huaxia (ed.) (9 July 2020). "No international sport events in China this year except for Beijing 2022 trials". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020.
  8. ^ "ISU Events scheduled to be held in China in 2020". International Skating Union. 13 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  9. ^ SHISEIDO Cup of China (29 October 2020). "#花滑中国杯# 两个新消息：" [#CupofChina# Two New Updates] (Weibo) (in Chinese). Archived 1 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  10. ^ "ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating – Cup of China 2021 Cancelled". International Skating Union. 16 August 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Third ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event moves from Chongqing (CHN) to Torino (ITA)". International Skating Union. 27 August 2021. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  12. ^ Burke, Patrick (10 May 2022). "ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating leg latest event in China cancelled over COVID-19". Inside the Games. Archived 29 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Sheffield selected to host first-ever UK Figure Skating Senior Grand Prix". British Ice Skating. 24 July 2022. Archived 13 October 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  14. ^ "Communication No. 2782". International Skating Union. 27 April 2026. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  15. ^ "2004 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 6 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  16. ^ "2005 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 4 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  17. ^ "2006 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 4 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  18. ^ "2007 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 4 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  19. ^ "2008 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 28 April 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  20. ^ "2009 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 28 April 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  21. ^ "2010 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 28 April 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  22. ^ "2011 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 7 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  23. ^ "2012 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 7 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  24. ^ "2013 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 6 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  25. ^ "2014 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 14 January 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  26. ^ "2015 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 3 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  27. ^ "2016 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 3 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  28. ^ "2017 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 12 January 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  29. ^ "2019 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 12 January 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  30. ^ "2020 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 8 October 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  31. ^ "2023 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 17 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  32. ^ "2024 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores. Archived 5 February 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  33. ^ "2025 GP Cup of China". Skating Scores
  34. ^ "Competition Results – Jeremy Abbott". International Skating Union. Archived 27 November 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  35. ^ "Competition Results – Boyang Jin". International Skating Union. Archived 28 March 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  36. ^ "Competition Results – Mao Asada". International Skating Union. Archived 18 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  37. ^ "Competition Results – Irina Slutskaya". International Skating Union. Archived 24 January 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  38. ^ "Competition Results – Yuna Kim". International Skating Union. Archived 17 February 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  39. ^ "Competition Results – Xue Shen/Hongbo Zhao". International Skating Union. Archived 26 April 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  40. ^ "Competition Results – Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto". International Skating Union. Archived 23 March 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  41. ^ "Competition Results – Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat". International Skating Union. Archived 20 February 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 April 2025.