Thursday November 28, 2024

Hanyu leads by 20+ points at GP Skate Canada

Published : 26 Oct 2019, 11:54

  DF-Xinhua Report
Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan. File Photo Xinhua.

Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu performed a stunning short program at the ISU Grand Prix of figure skating Skate Canada in Kelowna on Friday, leading with 20.55 points ahead of the men's free skate.

Skating to Otonal by Raul di Blasio, the 24-year-old Japanese opened his routine with a quadruple Salchow and a triple Axel followed by a quadruple-triple toeloop combination, before he collected a level four for his spins and earned 109.60 points.

"It was not so great, but felt I did my best today," The two-time world champion and 2019 world silver medalist commented. "I felt calm today, but I am not sure if my calmness led to me being more focused."

The United States' Grand Prix debutant Camden Pulkinen, just 19, surprisingly came second on 89.05 points after producing a quadruple toeloop, triple Axel, triple Lutz-triple toeloop and solid spins. Canada's Nam Nguyen was third on 84.08 points.

On women's part, the ISU GP Final champion Mika Kihira of Japan and South Korean You Young finished 1-2 after short program as both skaters hit a triple Axel. World Junior Champion Alexandra Trusova of Russia finished third.

The 2019 European bronze medalists Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitri Kozlovskii of Russia reigned supreme in the pairs short program with 76.45 points, beating local favorites Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro to the second place.

Another Russian duo Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov ranked third, while China's young pair Tang Feiyao/Yang Yongchao finished the seventh on 62.35.

Two-time world medalists Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue of the United States edged Canadian Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier for the lead in the rhythm dance, and their fellow Americans Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker were the third.