Hanyu shines, China duo second at Skate America
Source: AFP |
October 21, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JAPANESE teenager Yuzuru Hanyu dazzled at Skate America on Friday, delivering a record-setting short program to seize the men's lead at the first grand prix event of the season.
The 17-year-old earned 95.07 points for a breathtaking routine. It was the highest score ever recorded for a short program in competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union.
Hanyu, who skated last, left the ice to thunderous cheers from the crowd at Kent, Washington. The score improved on the previous best mark of 94.00, posted by Daisuke Takahashi at the World Team Trophy in April.
"Ninety-five is an extremely high score and I really was not expecting it," said Hanyu, who landed a quad toe loop early in the program and a triple axel later. "I want to say I was very surprised. But I want to compete to the final competition. I still have the free to skate.
"I want to control my emotions to the very end. This is my first grand prix and I don't want to get too excited."
Another Japanese, Takahiko Kozuka, was a distant second at 85.32. He was the silver medalist at the 2011 world championships and finished third last year at Skate America.
Defending US champion Jeremy Abbott was third, scoring 77.71 for a program that included an early fall.
Tatsuki Machida was fourth on 75.78, giving Japan three of the top four places.
Pairs competition opened with Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov seizing the lead with a short program score of 65.78 points.
Silver medalists in the past two world championships, they were also second at last year's Grand Prix Final.
China's Pang Qing and Tong Jian were second at 61.96. Tong fell early in the routine, dimming the prospects for the 2010 Olympic silver medalists, who won world titles in 2006 and 2010.
Competition was continuing yesterday with the men's free skate and the pairs free skate, while the ladies will get under way with their short program and ice dance begins.
Skate America marks the start of a season that sees skaters building toward the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
The 17-year-old earned 95.07 points for a breathtaking routine. It was the highest score ever recorded for a short program in competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union.
Hanyu, who skated last, left the ice to thunderous cheers from the crowd at Kent, Washington. The score improved on the previous best mark of 94.00, posted by Daisuke Takahashi at the World Team Trophy in April.
"Ninety-five is an extremely high score and I really was not expecting it," said Hanyu, who landed a quad toe loop early in the program and a triple axel later. "I want to say I was very surprised. But I want to compete to the final competition. I still have the free to skate.
"I want to control my emotions to the very end. This is my first grand prix and I don't want to get too excited."
Another Japanese, Takahiko Kozuka, was a distant second at 85.32. He was the silver medalist at the 2011 world championships and finished third last year at Skate America.
Defending US champion Jeremy Abbott was third, scoring 77.71 for a program that included an early fall.
Tatsuki Machida was fourth on 75.78, giving Japan three of the top four places.
Pairs competition opened with Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov seizing the lead with a short program score of 65.78 points.
Silver medalists in the past two world championships, they were also second at last year's Grand Prix Final.
China's Pang Qing and Tong Jian were second at 61.96. Tong fell early in the routine, dimming the prospects for the 2010 Olympic silver medalists, who won world titles in 2006 and 2010.
Competition was continuing yesterday with the men's free skate and the pairs free skate, while the ladies will get under way with their short program and ice dance begins.
Skate America marks the start of a season that sees skaters building toward the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
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