Chan win skating title in record breaking fashion

In Moscow, Patrick Chan of Canada won the world figure skating championship while setting three world records in skating in just two days. Chan was the silver medalist in 2010 and 2009 but scored 187.96 points in the free skate earlier today for a total score of 280.98. Those scores broke the record of Daisuke Takahashi that was set at the Four Continents tournament in 2008.Chan also set the record in the short program.
Takahiko Kozuka of Japan won the silver medal. Russia’s Artur Gachinski won the bronze medal in his first appearance at the world championships. The U.S. will only able to send two skaters to the world championships next year after the top two American skaters failed to finish with a combined placement of 13 or better. Richard Dornbush was the top U.S. skater finished at 9^th place. Ross miner placed 11^th and U.S. champion Ryan Bradley placed 13^th.
“The whole week here has been a great experience. It’s gone really well and I can say I’m happy,” Dornbush said in a statement. “Being at worlds and seeing all the other skaters and what they’ve done is great inspiration for next year.” Dornbush had previously won the junior Grand Prix title in December of 2010.
Chan was considered the favorite after an impressive victory at the Grand Prix final. His performance dramatically opened the world championships. The worlds had been previously scheduled for Tokyo in March was moved to Moscow after Japan had suffered the earthquake and tsunami followed by a nuclear crisis.
“I didn’t change my program, which is very important to me,” said Chan, a native of Ottawa, Ontario. “I did have some doubts in my mind if I should, but I said ‘No, no, no,’ because I’ve been training this program all season long since nationals. I’m very proud of myself to be able to do two quads in the opening of the program.” As of December 2010, Chan was ranked 2^nd in the world by the International Skating Union, although that may change after his performance.
The world championships will resume later this week with the pairs free leg, where defending champions Pang Qing and Tong Jian of China will be competing with the lead. The first day of the women’s competition will also start later this week. Mao Asada, the defending champion, and Miki Ando will be facing South Korea’s Olympic champion Kim Yu-Na.