Yuzuru Hanyu Continues to Practice 2018 After Olympic
Bernat Armangue/Associated Press
Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu—on the strength of a stirring free skate—repeated as a gold medalist in men's singles figure skating Friday (Saturday in South Korea) at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Hanyu became the first man to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in singles figure skating since American Dick Button in 1948 and 1952, while countryman Shoma Unowon silver and Spain's Javier Fernandeztook bronze.
Here is a look at the top 10 finishers in the overall men's singles event, with full results available at the Olympics' official website:
1. Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN): 317.85
2. Shoma Uno (JPN): 306.90
3. Javier Fernandez (ESP): 305.24
4. Jin Boyang (CHN): 297.77
5. Nathan Chen (USA): 297.35
6. Vincent Zhou (USA): 276.69
7. Dmitri Aliev (OAR): 267.51
8. Mikhail Kolyada (OAR): 264.25
9. Patrick Chan (CAN): 263.43
10. Adam Rippon (USA): 259.36
American Nathan Chen overcame a disastrous short program to post the top score in the free skate; however, he finished just off the podium in fifthplace.
Meanwhile, Fernandez earned Spain its first medal in Olympic figure skating by virtue of his bronze.
NBC Olympics tweeted the following video of Hanyu's gold medal-winning free skate:
NBC Olympics @ NBCOlympicsYuzuru Hanyu earns gold! He defends his title in men's figure skating one month after returning from injury. #WinterOlympics https://t.co/fmMl0C4Amf https://t.co/8bZglSdgaR
Although Hanyu finished behind Chan in the free skate, his lead after the short program gave him plenty of cushion to win gold.
After watching Hanyu match his accomplishment as a back-to-back Olympic gold medalist in men's singles figure skating, Button tweeted the following:
Dick Button @ PushDicksButtonHanyu - Beautifully choreographed with the music. Terrific theatre!
Hanyu's free skate wasn't 100 percent crisp, but his grace and presentation allowed him to stand out above all other competitors.
ESPN's Michelle Beadle attempted to explain the intangible quality Hanyu brings to the table:
Michelle Beadle @ MichelleDBeadleI don't know what 'it' is, but Hanyu has all of it. #figureskatingtweet
As seen in this video, Chen put together a spectacular free skate that got him back in medal contention despite his struggles in the short program:
NBC Olympics @ NBCOlympics"Nathan Chen is still the quad king!" This is history. @nathanwchen with SIX quads in his men's free skate program. #WinterOlympics #BestOfUS https://t.co/Ldd0aubwzt https://t.co/LrM7LDjArn
According to ESPN Stats & Info, Chen saved the best performance of his career for the biggest stage:
ESPN Stats & Info @ ESPNStatsInfoNathan Chen landed an Olympic-record six quads in his free skate tonight. #PyeongChang2018 His 215.08 points in the free skate are a personal best, nearly 11 points more than his previous high. https://t.co/pzJj0Hew8p
No skater had ever hit six quads in a free skate before, but Chen pulled off the feat and landed five of them cleanly with only one slight stumble.
Bleacher Report's Joon Lee put Chen's accomplishment into perspective:
Joon Lee @ iamjoonleeWhat a comeback for Nathan Chen. First skater to land six quad jumps in an Olympics. The resolve he showed after two of his worst performances ever, tough as nails. And he's only 18.
Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi was one of many who were blown away by Chen's ability to bounce back:
Kristi Yamaguchi @ kristiyamaguchiWhat?!?!?! Completely inhuman display of ridiculousness!!! 6 quads...beautiful skating. Guys beyond. Congratulations @nathanwchen (excuse my chicken scratch) 👏🏼#bowdown #figureskating https://t.co/PjbTGM5pfr
While Chen typically goes for five quads, he threw in another while playing catch-up on the heels of a shaky short program.
PerNick McCarvelof NBC Olympics, Chen described his mindset and how he felt during what was a historic free skate: "I already fell so many times. ... I just decided to go out there and throw down and see what happens."
Much of the focus on the American side involved Chen, but his Team USA cohorts turned in strong showings during the free skate as well.
At just 17 years of age, Vincent Zhou finished sixthin the free skate and sixthin the overall competition.
Also, Adam Rippon put together another aesthetically pleasing routine that drew heavy praise, including this tweet from Olympic silver medal-winning freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy:
Gus Kenworthy @ guskenworthyI don't fully understand figure skating judging so I can't really speculate on the scoring but @Adaripp's performance was truly mesmerizing. You're #1 in our hearts, Adam! So proud of you and inspired by you.
Rippon's performance was good for 10thin the free skate, and combined with the short program, he finished 10thoverall.
While the United States has now gone consecutive Olympics without medaling in men's singles figure skating, Chen and Zhou are young enough to give the Americans two medal hopefuls in 2022 should they continue to develop.
As for Japan, it became the first nation to take gold and silver in men's singles figure skating since Russia's Alexei Yagudin and Evgeni Plushenko at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
Japan has now won at least one medal in men's singles in each of the past three Olympics after having previously never medaled in the event.
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2759940-olympic-figure-skating-results-2018-yuzuru-hanyu-wins-mens-singles-gold
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