Cup of China

International figure skating competition From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 (simplified Chinese: 中国滑冰协会; traditional Chinese: 中國滑冰協會), 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.

StatusActive
GenreGrand Prix competition
FrequencyAnnual
CountryChina China
Quick facts Status, Genre ...
Cup of China
Logo of the Cup of China
StatusActive
GenreGrand Prix competition
FrequencyAnnual
CountryChina China
Inaugurated2003
Previous event
2025 Cup of China
Next event
2026 Cup of China
Organized byChinese Skating Association
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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).

The men's event medalists at the 2019 Cup of China
The gold, silver, and bronze medalists in the men's event at the 2019 Cup of China: Jin Boyang of China (center), Yan Han of China (left), and Matteo Rizzo of Italy (right)
The women's event medalists at the 2012 Cup of China
The gold, silver, and bronze medalists in the women's event at the 2012 Cup of China: Mao Asada of Japan (center), Yulia Lipnitskaya of Russia (left), and Kiira Korpi of Finland (right)
The pairs event medalists at the 2011 Cup of China
The gold, silver, and bronze medalists in the pairs event at the 2011 Cup of China: Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia (center), Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao of China (right), and Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch of Canada (left)
The ice dance event medalists at the 2013 Cup of China
The gold, silver, and bronze medalists in the ice dance event at the 2013 Cup of China: Nathalie Péchalat and Fabian Bourzat of France (center), Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia (left), and Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States (right)

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

Shun Sato at the 2024–25 Grand Prix Final
Amber Glenn at the 2019 International Challenge Cup
Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava at the 2025 World Championships
Madison Chock and Evan Bates at the 2019 Internationaux de France
The reigning Cup of China champions (from left to right): Shun Sato of Japan (men's singles); Amber Glenn of the United States (women's singles); Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava of Georgia (pair skating); and Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States (ice dance)

Men's singles

More information Year, Location ...
Men's event medalists
Year Location Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
2003 Beijing United States Timothy Goebel France Brian Joubert China Li Chengjiang [3]
2004 Canada Jeffrey Buttle China Li Chengjiang Germany Stefan Lindemann [15]
2005 Canada Emanuel Sandhu Switzerland Stéphane Lambiel Russia Andrei Griazev [16]
2006 Nanjing United States Evan Lysacek Belarus Sergei Davydov Canada Emanuel Sandhu [17]
2007 Harbin United States Johnny Weir United States Evan Lysacek Switzerland Stéphane Lambiel [18]
2008 Beijing United States Jeremy Abbott United States Stephen Carriere Czech Republic Tomáš Verner [19]
2009 Japan Nobunari Oda United States Evan Lysacek Russia Sergei Voronov [20]
2010 Japan Takahiko Kozuka United States Brandon Mroz Czech Republic Tomáš Verner [21]
2011 Shanghai United States Jeremy Abbott Japan Nobunari Oda China Song Nan [22]
2012 Japan Tatsuki Machida Japan Daisuke Takahashi Russia Sergei Voronov [23]
2013 Beijing China Yan Han Russia Maxim Kovtun Japan Takahiko Kozuka [24]
2014 Shanghai Russia Maxim Kovtun Japan Yuzuru Hanyu United States Richard Dornbush [25]
2015 Beijing Spain Javier Fernández China Jin Boyang China Yan Han [26]
2016 Canada Patrick Chan Russia Sergei Voronov [27]
2017 Russia Mikhail Kolyada United States Max Aaron [28]
2018 No competition held [4]
2019 Chongqing China Jin Boyang China Yan Han Italy Matteo Rizzo [29]
2020 China Chen Yudong [30]
2021 Competitions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [10]
2022 [12]
2023 France Adam Siao Him Fa Japan Shoma Uno Kazakhstan Mikhail Shaidorov [31]
2024 Japan Shun Sato Kazakhstan Mikhail Shaidorov France Adam Siao Him Fa [32]
2025 Italy Daniel Grassl Kazakhstan Mikhail Shaidorov [33]
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Women's singles

More information Year, Location ...
Women's event medalists
Year Location Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
2003 Beijing Ukraine Elena Liashenko Japan Yoshie Onda Japan Fumie Suguri [3]
2004 Russia Irina Slutskaya Russia Viktoria Volchkova Canada Joannie Rochette [15]
2005 Japan Mao Asada Japan Shizuka Arakawa [16]
2006 Nanjing Hungary Júlia Sebestyén Japan Yukari Nakano United States Emily Hughes [17]
2007 Harbin South Korea Yuna Kim United States Caroline Zhang Italy Carolina Kostner [18]
2008 Beijing Japan Miki Ando Finland Laura Lepistö [19]
2009 Japan Akiko Suzuki Finland Kiira Korpi Canada Joannie Rochette [20]
2010 Japan Miki Ando Japan Akiko Suzuki Russia Alena Leonova [21]
2011 Shanghai Italy Carolina Kostner United States Mirai Nagasu Russia Adelina Sotnikova [22]
2012 Japan Mao Asada Russia Yulia Lipnitskaya Finland Kiira Korpi [23]
2013 Beijing Russia Anna Pogorilaya Russia Adelina Sotnikova Italy Carolina Kostner [24]
2014 Shanghai Russia Elizaveta Tuktamysheva Russia Yulia Lipnitskaya Japan Kanako Murakami [25]
2015 Beijing Japan Mao Asada Japan Rika Hongo Russia Elena Radionova [26]
2016 Russia Elena Radionova Canada Kaetlyn Osmond Russia Elizaveta Tuktamysheva [27]
2017 Russia Alina Zagitova Japan Wakaba Higuchi Russia Elena Radionova [28]
2018 No competition held [4]
2019 Chongqing Russia Anna Shcherbakova Japan Satoko Miyahara Russia Elizaveta Tuktamysheva [29]
2020 China Chen Hongyi China Angel Li China Jin Minzhi [30]
2021 Competitions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [10]
2022 [12]
2023 Japan Hana Yoshida Japan Rinka Watanabe Belgium Loena Hendrickx [31]
2024 United States Amber Glenn Japan Mone Chiba South Korea Kim Chae-yeon [32]
2025 United States Alysa Liu Japan Rinka Watanabe [33]
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Pairs

More information Year, Location ...
Pairs' event medalists
Year Location Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
2003 Beijing
  • China
 [3]
2004 [15]
2005 [16]
2006 Nanjing [17]
2007 Harbin [18]
2008 Beijing [19]
2009 [20]
2010 [21]
2011 Shanghai [22]
2012 [23]
2013 Beijing [24]
2014 Shanghai [25]
2015 Beijing [26]
2016 [27]
2017 [28]
2018 No competition held [4]
2019 Chongqing [29]
2020
  • China
  • Zhu Daizifei
  • Liu Yuhang
 [30]
2021 Competitions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [10]
2022 [12]
2023 [31]
2024 [32]
2025 [33]
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Ice dance

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

Jeremy Abbott at the 2010 NHK Trophy
Jin Boyang at the 2018 Four Continents Championships
Shun Sato at the 2025 World Championships
Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto at the 2009 World Championships
Nathalie Péchalat and Fabian Bourzat at the 2009 World Championships
From left to right: Jeremy Abbott of the United States, Jin Boyang of China, and Shun Sato of Japan have each won two Cup of China titles each in men's singles; while Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States, and Nathalie Péchalat and Fabian Bourzat of France, have each won three Cup of China titles in ice dance.
Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo at the 2009 Cup of China
Mao Asada at the 2013 Grand Prix Final
Amber Glenn at the 2019 Skate America
Irina Slutskaya at the Russian Championships
Yuna Kim at the 2011 World Championships
From left to right: Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China have won four Cup of China titles in pair skating; while Mao Asada of Japan, Amber Glenn of the United States, Irina Slutskaya of Russia, and Yuna Kim of South Korea have each won two Cup of China titles in women's singles.
More information Discipline, Most titles ...
Records
Discipline Most titles
Skater(s) No. Years Ref.
Men's singles 2 2008;
2011		 [34]
2019–20 [35]
2024–25 [36]
Women's singles 2 2012;
2015		 [37]
2024–25 [38]
2004–05 [39]
2007–08 [40]
Pairs 4 2003–04;
2006;
2009		 [41]
Ice dance 3 2004;
2007;
2009		 [42]
3 2010;
2012–13		 [43]
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Cumulative medal count

Men's singles

More information Rank, Nation ...
Total number of Cup of China medals in men's singles by nation
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 United States54211
2 Japan54110
3 China36413
4 Canada3014
5 Russia2147
6 France1113
7 Spain1001
8 Kazakhstan0123
9 Italy0112
 Switzerland0112
11 Belarus0101
12 Czech Republic0022
13 Germany0011
Totals (13 entries)20202060
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Women's singles

More information Rank, Nation ...
Total number of Cup of China medals in women's singles by nation
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Russia74617
2 Japan510419
3 United States2316
4 South Korea2013
5 China1113
6 Italy1023
7 Hungary1001
 Ukraine1001
9 Canada0123
 Finland0123
11 Belgium0011
Totals (11 entries)20202060
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Pairs

More information Rank, Nation ...
Total number of Cup of China medals in pairs by nation
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 China1314734
2 Russia3126
3 Italy1203
4 Germany1113
5 Canada1067
6 Georgia1001
7 United States0123
8 Ukraine0112
9 Poland0011
Totals (9 entries)20202060
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Ice dance

More information Rank, Nation ...
Total number of Cup of China medals in ice dance by nation
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Russia65516
2 United States58316
3 France5038
4 Italy2046
5 Canada1348
6 China1113
7 Israel0202
8 Ukraine0101
Totals (8 entries)20202060
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Total medals

More information Rank, Nation ...
Total number of Cup of China medals by nation
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 China18221353
2 Russia18111746
3 United States1216836
4 Japan1014529
5 France61411
6 Canada541322
7 Italy43714
8 South Korea2013
9 Ukraine1214
10 Germany1124
11 Georgia1001
 Hungary1001
 Spain1001
14 Israel0202
15 Finland0123
 Kazakhstan0123
17 Switzerland0112
18 Belarus0101
19 Czech Republic0022
20 Belgium0011
 Poland0011
Totals (21 entries)808080240
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References

External links

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