Sebastien Salom-Gomis/AFP/Getty Images
Isabeau Levito performs at free skating in Angers, France.
CNN –
American teenager Isabeau Levito won her first major international senior figure skating competition, securing the Grand Prix de France title on Saturday.
Although he finished third in the free skate, the 16-year-old’s total score of 203.22 was enough to win and qualify for the Grand Prix final in December.
Belgium’s Nina Pinzarrone was second with 198.80 points, while Rion Sumiyoshi of Japan was third with 197.79 points.
“I am very proud that I was able to improve my results compared to last season. My goal was to win at least one of my Grands Prix to really make it to the final. I’m really happy that I’ve improved in that regard,” Levito said, according to Olympics.com
After Friday’s short program, Levito had a five-point lead, which proved crucial after she struggled with her free skate in Angers, France, scoring just 131.39 points. Luckily for Levito, the top three of Saturday’s short program didn’t shine.
According to NBC, she is the first American woman to win a Grand Prix since Ashley Wagner at Skate America in 2016.
The Grand Prix de France is the third of the six Grand Prix of the season. On Saturday, fellow American teenager Ilia Malinin will take part in the men’s free skate. The 18-year-old is in first place after the short program.