Alina Zagitova wasn’t flawless in her Grand Prix season opener, but she didn’t have to be.
The Olympic champion from Russia totaled 215.29 points in Helsinki, winning the event by 17.72 over countrywoman Stanislava Konstantinova. Zagitova did not fall between two programs, but she singled a jump in her short and had landing problems in her free.
Her score ranks second among women this Grand Prix season behind Skate America winner Satoko Miyahara of Japan. But Zagitova’s score from her lower-level season debut in September — 238.43 — remains best in the world overall this season by 17 points.