Credit: AP/Tony Gutierrez In the men's event, which began with Saturday's short program, world champion Ilia Malinin of the U.S. took another step on his path toward the 2026 Winter Olympics by opening the slimmest of leads over Japanese rival Kao Miura.

2023 world pairs champions Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi of Japan captured figure skating’ s Grand Prix season opener Saturday (19 October) at the 2024 Skate America, held at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center.

Wakaba Higuchi won her first Grand Prix event after more than eight years of trying Saturday night, putting together an error-free program at Skate America to edge Japanese teammate Rinka Watanabe and American star Isabeau Levito.

Japan's Wakaba Higuchi overtook Americans Isabeau Levito and Bradie Tennell to win Skate America for the biggest title of her career. Higuchi, a 23-year-old who was fourth at the 2022 Olympics, rallied from fourth place after Friday's short program to top Saturday's free skate and win the Grand Prix Series opener.

Wakaba Higuchi won the women's title at Skate America on Saturday, leading Rinka Watanabe in a Japanese one-two in the first figure skating grand prix event of the season.

Wakaba Higuchi of Japan finishes first in the women's competition at Skate America with a total score of 196.93.

Former world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan opened the figure skating grand prix season with a pairs victory at Skate America on Saturday. Men's world champion Ilia Malinin of the United States was due to launch his bid for a third straight Skate America crown in the men's short programme later Saturday.