Could Zawadzki make history in Kingston?

Since the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series was established in 1995, no lady has won a Grand Prix event in her debut on the circuit. This week, U.S. Junior Champion Agnes Zawadzki could make history by winning gold at 2010 Skate Canada in her first senior international appearance.

Zawadzki easily won the Southwestern Regional Championships last week in Colorado Springs. Her short program score of 60.48 was over three points higher than any lady posted in the ISU season opener, 2010 Grand Prix of Japan. Zawadzki made a big splash last season and is a favorite at Skate Canada. She has three things going for her that set her apart from the crowd:

Great technique.
With one of the most beautiful triple Lutzes in ladies skating, a solid triple toe - triple toe combination, and a full arsenal of triples, the sixteen-year-old can compete jump for jump with the best in the world. Zawadzki trains in Colorado Springs alongside U.S. Champion Rachael Flatt.

Personality.
Zawadzki skates with flair and style; her Chicago free skate drew lots of acclaim in Spokane last year at nationals. This season, she will debut two new programs choreographed by Lori Nichol. She also has a bit of ambition... many skaters seize the opportunity to gain experience on the Junior Grand Prix before jumping up to the senior ranks; Zawadzki elected to skip the junior circuit this fall and instead move right up to the big leagues.

Momentum.
Zawadzki didn't make it out of sectionals in 2009, but last year she qualified for the U.S. Championships and won the junior ladies title. She went on to win the silver medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships, her first international competition. Skate Canada will be her second.

The ISU first held the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series in the 1995-1996 season. All of the ladies that won that fall had been competing at international events like Skate Canada and Skate America in prior years, before they were named "Grand Prix." Michelle Kwan won 1995 Skate America, Skate Canada, Nations Cup, and the first ever Champions Series Final (now the Grand Prix Final). Josée Chouinard of Canada won 1995 Grand Prix of France, and Chen Lu of China won 1995 Grand Prix of Japan.

The last woman to win Skate Canada in her senior "Grand Prix" debut was Josée Chouinard, in 1990.