Aboian and Veselukhin Secure Gold, Lead U.S. to Three Medals at Junior Grand Prix Thailand

Reigning U.S. junior ice dance champions Hana Maria Aboian and Daniil Veselukhin earned the gold medal at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series event in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 9-13.

The gold was one of three medals for the U.S. Junior National Team at the competition held inside the IWIS International Training Center. Fueled by an international personal best short program score, Patrick Blackwell claimed the silver medal, the second of his career in the Series. Sofia Jarmoc and Luke Witkowski secured the bronze medal in pairs with personal best scores across the board. It marks their first Junior Grand Prix medal.

A total of 11 U.S. athletes competed at the fourth of seven Junior Grand Prix events.

Aboian and Veselukhin won both the rhythm and free dance, starting fast in the rhythm dance with a performance to "Vogue" by Madonna that scored 61.00. Their sequential twizzles generated 8.94 points, followed by their midline step sequence worth 9.66 points.

In their free dance to "Hymnus Orbis," "Salvation For a Proud Nation" and "Surrender to Hope" by Trailerhead, the team showcased a strong combination lift that was the highest-scoring element of the event at 12.79 points, and their midline step sequence added 9.29 points.

Aboian and Veselukhin, whose partnership began in December 2023, earned all positive grades of execution for their two programs. They placed on the podium at both of their Junior Grand Prix events in 2024 and finished seventh at the World Junior Championships.

Their teammates in Thailand, Michelle Deych and Ryan Hu, finished fourth in both segments and fourth overall with a personal best overall score of 137.47. The result is their best at a Junior Grand Prix after placing sixth at the Junior Grand Prix Series opener in Latvia.

The reigning U.S. junior pewter medalists received all positive GOEs for their programs. They produced 31.44 points in the rhythm dance, earning a Level 4 designation on their rotational lift. Their free dance to music from "The Four Seasons" soundtrack by Max Richter and Antonio Vivaldi featured two Level 4 lifts.

Blackwell collected his second Junior Grand Prix medal (2024 JGP Czech Republic) with a total score of 212.17, a new international personal best. He placed third in the short program and second in the free skate.

Receiving all positive GOEs for his short program to "Uprising" by Muse, Blackwell landed four triple jumps, including a triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination in the second half of the program that chalked up 11.62 points. He tallied a segment score of 74.23.

The reigning U.S. junior bronze medalist opened his free skate to "Silent Guardian" by Fringe Element and "Warriors" by League of Legends music, 2wei and Edda Hayes with a quad toe-triple toe combination worth 15.60 points, which was the highest-scoring element in the competition by more than two points. He followed it up with a triple Axel-double Axel sequence that earned 12.44 points. He also landed a quad toe that produced 10.99 points.

Jarmoc and Witkowski, the reigning U.S. junior pewter medalists, placed fourth in the short program and third in the free skate, en route to an overall score of 149.66.

The duo posted a short program score of 55.00. Their performance to a medley of Bruno Mars songs was highlighted by a Level 3 Axel lasso lift that generated 7.83 points.

In the free skate, Jarmoc and Witkowski totaled 94.66. Their free skate to "Another Love" by Tom Odell included two Level 4 lifts and a Level 4 spin at the end.

Reigning U.S. junior pairs champions Reagan Moss and Jakub Galbavy finished fourth overall with 146.74 points.

Skating to a "Fly Me to the Moon/Lucky" mash-up by Rick Hale featuring Breea Guttery, Moss and Galbavy posted a short program score of 55.25. Their third-place routine included a Level 3 triple twist and a Level 4 reverse lasso lift.
 
Their free skate to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" produced a score of 91.49 and a fourth-place segment finish.

In the women's event, Jessica Jurka placed 10th in her Junior Grand Prix debut with an overall score of 157.11, while Emilea Nemirovsky was 11th with 156.81 points.

Highlights from Jurka's free skate included a triple Lutz-double Axel-double Axel sequence that added up to 14.26 points, as well as two Level 4 spins. She's the reigning U.S. junior bronze medalist.

Nemirovsky, the two-time and reigning U.S. junior pewter medalist, opened both programs by landing a triple Lutz-triple toe combination.

For full results from Junior Grand Prix Thailand, visit the 2025 Junior Grand Prix Series Competition Central.