Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu skated to a strong lead in the Men’s Short Program. Javier Fernandez of Spain came second and Canada’s Patrick Chan is currently sitting in third place.
Hanyu put out a confident performance to Frederic Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 in G minor, reeling off a quadruple Salchow, quadruple-triple toeloop combination, triple Axel and three level-four spins. The 2014 Olympic Champion scored 110.56 points. “To be honest, I am very, very happy right now, more so than after NHK Trophy or the Grand Prix Final. But at the same time, I cannot say that it was a complete program, such as the quality and speed of the quad toe, and the level 3 on my step sequence. I was a little bit nervous before the short program because my practice yesterday did not go very well and I faced multiple obstacles in my training leading up to this event. But I’ve learned that this is natural, and I think it was good that I was able to control myself and my performance regardless”, the 2015 World silver medalist noted.
Fernandez opened his “Malaguena” program with a quad-triple toe combination but then fell on the quad Salchow. The reigning World Champion recovered to complete a triple Axel, two level-four spins and level-four footwork. The four-time European Champion picked up 98.52 points. “There was a little mistake in the quad Sal. I felt great going into it, but on the landing I lost my balance. But the program felt great. I tried not to give any points away in the steps and spins. Other than the mistake everything else was good. That’s why I got a big score even having a fall on the second quad”, Fernandez said. “Hopefully in the free skating keep more concentrated. Yuzuru is ten points ahead and I just want to skate the best I can”, he added.
Chan’s routine to “Mack the Knife” featured a quad-triple toeloop combination, triple Lutz and level-four spins and footwork, but he crashed on his triple Axel. The three-time World Champion earned 94.84 points, a seasons best. “I felt happy getting off the ice and of course part of it is because I’m relieved. There’s a lot of pressure that I haven’t had in two seasons. To be in the top three is a huge achievement. I’m happy with the results and how I performed, despite the triple Axel (fall). Overall it’s been a great year for my triple Axel and my performance - it’s at another level”, the 2016 Four Continents Champion commented.
Shoma Uno (JPN) sits in fourth at 90.74 points. Boyang Jin (CHN) became the first skater to land a quadruple Lutz at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships and stand in fifth at 89.86 points. Mikhail Kolyada (RUS) rounds up the top six (89.66 points). A total of 30 Men competed in the Short Program and the top 24 advance to the Free Skating on Friday.
The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2016 continue Thursday with the Ladies Short Progrm and Free Dance. For more information, full entry lists and results please see: www.isu.org and www.worlds2016.com .