Returning after a seven-year hiatus at the ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy in Japan, 2018 Olympic bronze medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani completed their rhythm dance as if they never left competitive ice. Placing 6th in the rhythm dance with 71.74 points, the crowd was on its feet well before they finished their program.

Fresh off their Grand Prix de France silver medal, Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson delivered another electric rhythm dance performance garnering the British ice dancers 81.57 points for first place, somewhat lower than the 84.38 they received in France. 

Known for their dynamic musicality and crowd-pleasing energy, the British duo skated with the confidence of athletes fully aware they’ve become global contenders. 

Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri earned 76.36 points after an error on their twizzle sequence, finishing in 2nd place heading into the free dance.

The reigning European champions are coming off a disappointing outing at the Grand Prix de France, where they placed fifth in the rhythm dance before finishing in 4th overall — an uncharacteristic dip for one of the sport’s most consistent teams. Their performance showed sharp execution and renewed focus, despite the wobble from Fabbri.

Americans Caroline Green and Michael Parsons made a strong return to the Grand Prix series, after being forced to withdraw due to an injury Parsons sustained in the rhythm dance at the ISU Grand Prix Cup of China. They received 75.14 points to land in 3rd place as strong medal contenders in Osaka. 

Katarina Wolfkostin and Dimitry Tsarevski, one of several U.S. teams that will be fighting for one of their nation's three Olympic berths, head into the free dance with 72.12 points in 5th place.

NHK Trophy is the fourth of six ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix events, where athletes compete for the top spots at each event to secure a place at the Grand Prix Final in December. 

Overall, the rhythm dance at NHK Trophy was scored fairly low. At the other Grand Prix events competed so far, top U.S. team and favorites for Olympic gold, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, recorded 84.44 points at their first Grand Prix in China, Canadian veterans Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier received 85.38 points at Skate Canada, and the other comeback story of this Olympic season, newly formed team Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, submitted 78.00 points after a fall. 

Affectionately dubbed the “Shib Sibs,” the brother-and-sister duo last competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, where they earned bronze in both the team and ice dance events and were the first ice dance team of Asian descent to earn medals at the Games. Their résumé includes three world championship medals — bronze in 2011, silver in 2016, and bronze again in 2017 — and two U.S. titles (2016–17).

After the 2018 Olympics, the siblings announced a hiatus from the sport while they pursued other projects, performing in shows such as Stars on Ice, with a return to competition never ruled out. 

However, in late 2019, Maia was diagnosed with cancer, undergoing surgery to remove a kidney tumor. The surgery was a success, but the recovery slow, and the pair never made their long-anticipated return.

Until now.

"That was definitely an unexpected challenge that I had to overcome," Maia said speaking candidly about her diagnosis. "I'm so grateful to be healthy and doing what I am right now, just because I know how precious every minute is." 

Alex added that time away from competition gave them, "real perspective." "We have so much more respect for each other, because I saw what she went through and how she's come out so much stronger," he said.

They will need strong scores in the free dance, and a first or second-place finish at their next Grand Prix in Finland for a chance to make it back to Japan for the Grand Prix Final.

The ISU Grand Prix NHK Trophy continues with the pairs, men's and women's short programs early Friday morning streaming on Peacock.