Olympic Figure skating

Nathan Chen successfully defended his men's gold at the 2019 World Figure Skating Championships on Saturday after a season's best display in the free skate saw him clinch back-to-back titles in Saitama, Japan.

United States star Chen came into Day 4 as the men's leader following the short program, and he scored 216.02 in an error-free skate on Saturday to take the top prize at the Saitama Super Arena. Chen finished with 323.42 points overall, just about beating his winning score from 2018.

Yuzuru Hanyu was Japan's best chance at challenging for the gold medal coming into this competition, but he finished just short and had to settle for silver.

His overall score of 300.97 was way off the pace set by Saturday's champion, although American bronze medal-winner Vincent Zhou was almost another 20 points behind him (281.16).

In The Loop posted a rundown of the final leaderboard:

Final results of the Men's competition at #WorldFigure

🥇 #NathanChen (USA) - FS: 216.02 WR, Total: 323.42 WR
🥈 #YuzuruHanyu (JPN) - FS: 206.10, Total: 300.97
🥉 #VincentZhou (USA) - FS: 186.99, Total: 281.16 pic.twitter.com/9QtNu3yMzO

— In The Loop (@InTheLoPodcast) March 23, 2019

Zhou's late move into the bronze-medal place saw the United States account for two podium places, and it's difficult to envision Chen being knocked off his skating pedestal in the near future.

Commentator Nick McCarvel provided more context on how rare the victory was:

Statz:

--Nathan Chen becomes the first U.S. 🇺🇸 man to successfully defend his #WorldFigure gold since Scott Hamilton in 1983-84.
--It's the first time since '96 that two U.S. men are on the worlds podium.
--This is a first world medal for Vincent Zhou pic.twitter.com/XhyTmke0SQ

— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) March 23, 2019

Six-time U.S. figure skating champion Meryl Davis congratulated the new generation of American talent:

It’s such a privilege to watch these masters at work. Congratulations @nathanwchen on your 2nd world title.... truly incredible. Your talent, focus, humility & class are all to be commended. ⛸ A Champion in every way. 🇺🇸

— Meryl Davis (@Meryl_Davis) March 23, 2019

Home favourite Hanyu was largely expected to be the fiercest challenger on Chen's throne, but like a true champion, the threat of his competition only appeared to coax an even more refined display from the latter.

Magnanimous in victory, Chen heaped praise on his rival after the medal ceremony, per podcaster Jackie Wong:

Nathan Chen: It is always an honor to compete against Yuzuru Hanyu; it is an even bigger honor to skate after him. #WorldFigure

— Jackie Wong (@rockerskating) March 23, 2019

Jason Brown was second behind Chen after the short program, but he drifted down the scoreboard after netting almost 50 points fewer than his countryman in the free skate and ended up ninth overall.

The American was disappointed not to carry over the same standard into the free skate as he showcased in the short program, but the gulf in class between his skate and those of Chen and Hanyu was noticeable.

No man has won three consecutive world gold medals since Canadian Patrick Chan between 2011 and 2013, a feat Chen could now match if he defends his title in Montreal next year.

Elizabet Tursynbaeva of Kazakhstan became the first woman to land a quadruple jump in senior international competition at the 2019 World Figure Skating Championships on Day 3 but could only clinch a silver medal.

Alina Zagitova, 16, of Russia took home the gold on Friday in the ladies' singles and finished more than 10 points ahead of Tursynbaeva with a winning overall score of 237.50 at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. Russia rounded off the singles podium as Evgenia Medvedeva finished a narrow third to Tursynbaeva with 223.80 points.

Meanwhile, the French pair of Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron are well en route to defending their world title in ice dancing, skating to a clear victory after breaking their own world-record score in the rhythm dance.

Their intense tango notched an 88.42 to see them score nearly four points ahead of Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov, whose Russian compatriots Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin sit third.

Visit ISU Results to view the final leaderboards in full.

         

Figure Skaters Online posted the final results of the ladies' singles:

Ladies final results: Zagitova wins her first World title; Tursynbaeva earns the silver (her first world medal) and Medvedeva earns the bronze to finish out a tough season! #TeamUSA ladies finish 7 and 9 (not enough to regain the third spot). #WorldFigure pic.twitter.com/K6tylSNQla

— FigureSkatersOnline (@fsonline) March 22, 2019

The gap of almost 13 points that separated gold medalist Zagitova from runner-up Tursynbaeva is more than the distance between the Kazakh silver medallist and seventh-placed American Bradie Tennell.

Teenage sensation Zagitova showed poise in both stages of her world championship performance and was consistent landing throughout her free program, which included her signature triple lutz triple loop.

It earned her a score of 155.42, making her the youngest figure skater in more than two decades to do the sport's major double:

Figure Skating: Sixteen-year-old Alina Zagitova is the youngest in over 20 years to win the Olympic AND world title in ladies' singles, since Tara Lipinski completed this double at Nagano 1998 at age 15. #WorldFigure2019

— Gracenote Olympic (@GracenoteGold) March 22, 2019

Tursynbaeva, 19, shares a trainer with Zagitova in Eteri Tutberidze, and although her quadruple salchow has caught global attention, it still wasn't enough to net her a larger score than her Russian rival in the free skate.

She scored a 148.80 on Friday—less than Medvedeva's 149.57—but her groundbreaking first will live on in figure-skating memory, via the ISU:

History! #Tursynbaeva #WorldFigure #Quad pic.twitter.com/00FIuUifF9

— ISU Figure Skating (@ISU_Figure) March 22, 2019

Papadakis, 23, and Cizeron, 24, were similarly immaculate in their rhythm dance and haven't been caught at the top of the leaderboard.

France's perfect pair are favourites to retain their crown after displaying clean choreography in Friday's round and expressed their contentment following the performance, per podcaster Jackie Wong:

Papadakis/Cizeron: We are really happy about the way we skated today; it was definitely our best RD of the season. It's our 6th Worlds, we had a really great time today on the ice. The audience was amazing and we felt really supported, and we had a lot of fun #WorldFigure

— Jackie Wong (@rockerskating) March 22, 2019

Russian duo Sinitsina and Katsalapov are second after the judges scored them an 83.94. The latter told reporters: "I am overwhelmed with emotions. I am trying to restrain myself and concentrate on our elements, our programme, but the emotions just burst out of me. It is a true joy to skate here."

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of the United States sit fourth and just outside the medal places with a score of 83.09, which was 0.01 point less than bronze pair Stepanova and Bukin.

Korean figure skater Eunsoo Lim has accused U.S. counterpart Mariah Bell of intentionally slashing her with her ice skate.

Per TMZ, the 16-year-old's agent told the Agence France-Presse that Bell, 22, appeared to deliberately cut her at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships on Wednesday:

"Lim was slowly skating on the edge of the rink after completing her turn. Mariah Bell, who was scheduled to rehearse after Lim, suddenly kicked and stabbed Lim's calf with her skate blades.

"Mariah Bell didn't apologize to Lim Eun-soo after the incident and instead continued to rehearse for her routine."

It's said Lim required medical treatment afterwards for a gash on her leg.

The agent also said Bell has been "bullying" her for several months while the pair have been training together in Los Angeles.

However, the International Skating Union has investigated the matter and found no evidence of an intentional attack, per TMZ Sports:

"The incident was verbally reported to the ISU by the Korean Team Leader however no formal complaint has been received.

"Based on the evidence at hand at this point in time, which includes a video, there is no evidence that Ms. Bell intended any harm to Ms. Lim."

"The ISU met with delegates from both USA and Korea and urged both parties to find an amicable solution. The ISU maintains that this remains the appropriate approach."

Lim was able to compete and sits fifth in the standings after the short program, having scored 72.91 for this routine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNFaxPxsQ5U

Bell is one place behind her in sixth.

The competition in Saitama, Japan, runs through to Sunday. The ladies' free skate, which will determine the final standings, takes place on Friday.