Figure skating-Japan's Uno wins gold in men's single event, French dance duo shine again (updated)
26/03/2022 20:05
(Adds ice dance results)
MONTPELLIER, France, March 26 (Reuters) - Japan's Shoma Uno
claimed his first major title when he secured the gold medal in
the men's singles event at the world championships on Saturday,
making the most of the absence of two of the favourites.
Later on Saturday, French duo Gabriella Papadakis and
Guillaume Cizeron, the only Beijing gold medallists present in
Montpellier, followed up on their Olympic title by securing
their fifth world crown in the ice dance.
With two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu and Beijing gold
medallist Nathan Chen skipping the event through injuries, Yuma
Kagiyama, runner-up at the Olympics last month, was among the
leading contenders, alongside compatriot Uno.
The 18-year-old Kagiyama failed to impress, however, and
seemed to know it as he left the ice with a wry smile on his
face.
He scored 191.91 on his free skate for a total of 297.60
after failing to properly land his quadruple loop.
That was well below his Olympic score of 310.05 and
certainly not enough to prevent Uno, who was leading after the
short programme, from prevailing.
Uno did not disappoint and his performance, although not
flawless, saw his coach Stephane Lambiel raise his arms in
celebration.
He scored 202.85 for a total of 312.38 after posting new
personal bests in both the short programme and the free skate.
"I'm very happy; I worked hard for this. And for once I
finish first. I'm very satisfied and I want to thank my coach
for this," said Uno after delighting the Montpellier crowd with
a routine set to Maurice Ravel's Bolero, a popular choice in
figure skating.
American Vincent Zhou took the bronze medal with a score of
277.38.
Emotions ran high as Ukraine's Ivan Shmuratko received a
long standing ovation that even delayed the start of his free
skate, although he was not penalised by the judges.
Shmuratko, who ultimately finished last, skated his short
programme wearing Ukraine's blue-and-yellow training T-shirt.
Ukraine's skaters have been taking part in the world
championships despite most of them taking days to get out of
their country and reach France.
Russian and Belarusian skaters were banned from competing
following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In the ice dance competition, Papadakis and Cizeron set a
world-record score with a total of 229.82, a 2.84 improvement on
their previous best mark from the Beijing Games.
"It's the most beautiful competition of our careers, the
support has been incredible," Cizeron said after they enjoyed
the warmest welcome from a rapturous crowd. "We couldn't be more
grateful."
Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue finished second ahead of
fellow Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Clare
Fallon)
((julien.pretot@thomsonreuters.com; +33149495370;))