Figure skating-New ice dance duo Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron triumph at Finlandia Trophy

(Corrects order of Rino Matsuike's name)

HELSINKI :Newly formed ice dance duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron won the Finlandia Trophy on Saturday for their second Grand Prix title, signalling their intent to challenge for Olympic gold with a performance that underlined their swift rise as contenders on the global stage.

Yuma Kagiyama captured the men's singles title despite a fall on his quadruple toe loop for back-to-back Grand Prix titles, while Japanese compatriot Chiba Mone climbed past American Amber Glenn to win the women's singles event, despite Glenn's powerful triple Axel.

Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany won the pairs event.

France's Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron, who announced their partnership in March, had a narrow lead over Canadians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier after Friday's rhythm dance and, skating with poise and precision, they pulled away with 124.29 points for their free programme to music from "The Whale," for 204.18 points overall.

World silver medallists Gilles and Poirier were second with a score of 202.11, while Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik of the United States scored 196.02 for third.

Cizeron won Olympic gold in 2022 with previous partner Gabriella Papadakis, who retired after the Beijing Games, before teaming up with Fournier Beaudry, a Canadian who received her French citizenship this month.

"We felt amazing today on the ice. We wanted to focus on enjoying the moment together and sharing it with the audience, and I think we succeeded. So we're very pleased," said Cizeron.

"I think when we're able to quiet our mind and just open our heart and share it together as a couple and together with the public, it's really an amazing exchange of love and energy,"