WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's star figure skater An Xiangyi participated in her first senior ISU Grand Prix at the Skate America on Saturday in Texas.
An, 16, landed a triple loop, double Axel, and a triple salchow-triple toe loop to score 59.74 points and ranked eighth after the short program. She got level-four in her footwork but level three in her spins.
"I am right now going through a growth spurt. I lost a lot of my jumps and I am currently getting them back. I was a little tired towards the end of the program so I wasn't as fast on the last two spins as usual. It's so hot in Texas, I am not used to that," said An, who became a national champion at the age of 12. She took part in the World Junior Championships in March this year and finished sixth.
An will also take part in the Cup of China in Chongqing, China on Nov. 9.
"I think this oriental program is good for me, but I will debut a new SP at the Cup of China that has been choreographed by Benoit Richaud. I will keep it a secret right now what it will be. Possibly I will bring this program back next season," she said.
Talking about her feelings towards the senior GP, she said: "Skating Senior is so different than Junior. You need to be much more mature and I am trying to develop towards that."
Belgium's Loena Hendrickx, two-time ISU world medalist, ranked first in the women's short program with 75.92. American skaters Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito followed in second and third respectively.
Hendrickx delivered a captivating performance that featured a triple flip, double Axel as well as level-four spins and footwork. The only glitch came when she underrotated the back end of her triple Lutz-triple toe combination.
Also on Saturday, America's star skater Ilia Malinin scored 310.47 to win the men's competition, while Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel of Germany triumphed in the pairs with a total of 184.23. America's world champion Madison Chock/Evan Bates took the lead after rhythm dance with 84.87.
The Skate America will conclude on Sunday with free dance and women's free skate.
