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Chan in control at GP Final
Source: Agencies |
December 11, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PATRICK Chan received a rousing ovation from a home crowd on Friday during the world champion's first competition since he caused a furore this week for saying that he sometimes felt underappreciated in Canada.
Chan, a child of Chinese migrants who grew up in Canada, suffered a backlash with fans and media pundits questioning his loyalty after he said in an interview that "in a perfect world" he wished he could have represented both China and Canada because of his ties to both countries.
But Chan gave his country plenty to cheer about at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Quebec City, earning 86.83 points in the short program to put himself in position for a second successive GP Final title.
Chan, in a black sweater vest with white-trimmed lapel and rolled up sleeves underneath, was the final skater and moved into first despite crashing into the end boards after a quad-triple combination 30 seconds into a three-minute routine.
The 20-year-old, who sports a tattoo on his left calf of a Canadian Maple Leaf with the Olympic rings and flame, recovered quickly and was flawless the rest of the way.
American Jeremy Abbott was second (82.66) after the short program while Spain's Javier Fernandez was third (81.26).
Chan, who was crowned world champion in April after romping to victory with record scores in Moscow, was asked about the furore caused by his remarks during a taped CBC interview that aired ahead of his routine.
"All I can say is I apologize and there is no doubt in my mind that I am more than happy to represent Canada ... and I really don't want people to think differently," said Chan.
"I am extremely happy to be born in Canada and skate for my country and the support is just unbelievable and I couldn't ask for more."
Italy's Carolina Kostner won the women's short program, scoring 66.43 points.
"I was actually quite nervous going into the six minutes," Kostner said. "I didn't really find my rhythm in that time, so I just tried to forget about everything and just do like I did in practice many times. I am very happy to have finally done the short program with no major mistakes."
Japan's Akiko Suzuki was second with 61.30, and Russia's Alena Leonova was third on 60.46.
In ice dance, world champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States topped the field after the short program with 76.17 points. Canadian Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were second, five points behind. France's Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat were third on 68.68.
Russia's Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov led the pairs competition after the short program with 71.57, compatriots Alona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy (69.82) were second, and China's Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao (63.43) third.
"It was very hard to skate last for the short program as it is the first time for the season and we were a little bit nervous," Trankov said.
Earlier, China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong won the junior pairs. Canada's Katherine Bobak and Ian Beharry took the silver, and Americans Britney Simpson and Matthew Blackmer finished third.
Chan, a child of Chinese migrants who grew up in Canada, suffered a backlash with fans and media pundits questioning his loyalty after he said in an interview that "in a perfect world" he wished he could have represented both China and Canada because of his ties to both countries.
But Chan gave his country plenty to cheer about at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Quebec City, earning 86.83 points in the short program to put himself in position for a second successive GP Final title.
Chan, in a black sweater vest with white-trimmed lapel and rolled up sleeves underneath, was the final skater and moved into first despite crashing into the end boards after a quad-triple combination 30 seconds into a three-minute routine.
The 20-year-old, who sports a tattoo on his left calf of a Canadian Maple Leaf with the Olympic rings and flame, recovered quickly and was flawless the rest of the way.
American Jeremy Abbott was second (82.66) after the short program while Spain's Javier Fernandez was third (81.26).
Chan, who was crowned world champion in April after romping to victory with record scores in Moscow, was asked about the furore caused by his remarks during a taped CBC interview that aired ahead of his routine.
"All I can say is I apologize and there is no doubt in my mind that I am more than happy to represent Canada ... and I really don't want people to think differently," said Chan.
"I am extremely happy to be born in Canada and skate for my country and the support is just unbelievable and I couldn't ask for more."
Italy's Carolina Kostner won the women's short program, scoring 66.43 points.
"I was actually quite nervous going into the six minutes," Kostner said. "I didn't really find my rhythm in that time, so I just tried to forget about everything and just do like I did in practice many times. I am very happy to have finally done the short program with no major mistakes."
Japan's Akiko Suzuki was second with 61.30, and Russia's Alena Leonova was third on 60.46.
In ice dance, world champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States topped the field after the short program with 76.17 points. Canadian Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were second, five points behind. France's Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat were third on 68.68.
Russia's Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov led the pairs competition after the short program with 71.57, compatriots Alona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy (69.82) were second, and China's Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao (63.43) third.
"It was very hard to skate last for the short program as it is the first time for the season and we were a little bit nervous," Trankov said.
Earlier, China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong won the junior pairs. Canada's Katherine Bobak and Ian Beharry took the silver, and Americans Britney Simpson and Matthew Blackmer finished third.
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