Shanghai / China

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2015 continued in Shanghai, China, on Saturday with the Men’s Free Skating. The Oriental Sports Center with a capacity of 14,700 was sold out.

Javier Fernandez (ESP) captures historic World title

Javier Fernandez of Spain captured a historic World title. Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu earned the silver medal and Denis Ten of Kazakhstan claimed the bronze.

Fernandez opened his program to “The Barber of Seville” with a quadruple toeloop, but then crashed on a  quadruple Salchow. The three-time European Champion rallied back to reel off a triple Axel, quadruple Salchow-double toeloop combination as well as four more triple jumps and three level-four spins. The ISU Grand Prix Final silver medalist posted a seasons best of 181.16 points and was ranked second in the Free Skating. Overall he racked up 273.90 points and moved up from second to first to claim the first figure skating World title for Spain. “I have no words. I train hard, really, really hard, but I was not expecting to be the gold medalist. This medal will help me to keep going for the next years, will give me a lot of energy to practice hard and to keep competing and trying my best in every single competition”, the 23-year-old two-time World bronze medalist said.

Hanyu’s performance to “The Phantom of the Opera” included eight triple jumps including two triple Axels, but he doubled the planned quad Salchow and missed the quad toeloop. With 175.88 points, the Olympic Champion was third in the Free Skating and slipped from first to second at 271.08 points overall. “As I had a few mistakes I feel really regretful. The crowd reaction was excellent and I felt as if I was skating at home. I’m really happy for him (Javier Fernandez) as a training mate. He always supports me and I know how he felt when he didn’t win over me a few times. Now finally he wins and I’m really proud of him”, the ISU Grand Prix Final Champion commented. Hanyu now has a full set of World medals – gold from 2014, silver from 2015 and bronze from 2012.

Ten pulled off a quadruple-triple toeloop combination and five triple jumps, but he stumbled on the first quad toe and a triple Axel. The Olympic bronze medalist won the Free Skating portion with 181.83 points, but overall remained in third place at 267.72 points overall. “I’m pleased with my performance today. It was much better than yesterday.  Finally the season is over and I realized there is a lot of work ahead. I hope there will be more good performances especially in Pyeongchang in 2018, because this is my goal”, the 2015 Four Continents Champion told the post-event news conference. It was Ten’s second World medal after a silver in 2013.

Jason Brown (USA) moved up from sixth to fourth at 248.29 points and Nam Nguyen (CAN) came from ninth to finish fifth. Misha Ge (UZB) pulled up from eight to sixth.

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2015 concluded Sunday with the Exhibition Gala.