Medvedeva leads figure skating worlds after short program

She was asked by press after the competition about how now is a tough time for Russian sport and how important it is for her country for her to do well.

Despite Pogorilaya’s ordeal, Medvedeva’s win meant Russian Federation, along with Canada and the USA, secured the maximum three spots in the women’s competition at next year’s Winter Olympics.

With Anna Pogorilaya, Karen Chen and Maria Sotskova filling the slots from fourth to sixth, the battle for the minor medals will be an intense one when the women return for Friday’s free skate.

“I nearly psych myself out by seeing and acknowledging what they’re doing and then forgetting about what I need to do”, said Chan, who won the world title in 2011, 2012, and 2013. A pep talk from 1992 Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi helped her focus. “I don’t think about records or places, just about doing my best”.

The 2010 Olympic champions earned a first-place score of 82.43 – bettering their own all-time best by 1.93 – and left two-time holders Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France trailing in second with 76.89.

“I hope that all the work that my coach and I put in every day will reap positive benefits”.

The pair from Harbin have been on the comeback trail after 21-year-old Sui underwent surgery on both her feet early last year. That has definitely been very motivating for me.

But blended in with all the jumps was his intricate footwork, sublime spins and inventive choreography – skills that sets him apart from the new breed of skaters who like packing their programs with high-scoring jumps. “I know how to deal a little bit more with the excitement, and hopefully I can just stay that way for the long (program)”.

Next up are the pairs.

Canada’s Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford came to Finland seeking a third straight world title, but finished seventh on 206.06. Two Canadians had never shared the womens podium at the world championship. “I skated with so much love and heart and just pulled it off”. But we have to support each other.

“It’s extremely special”, said Duhamel. “I skated well and had fun”. “My relatives get to share this experience with me”.

Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China were first with 81.23 points were first after the short program at 81.23 points.

From the United States, Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim were eighth, and Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier 20th. The bronze medal went to American’s Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani with 185.18 points.

Despite the aura of invincibility that comes from being unbeaten since November 2015, Medvedeva said her final skate was tough, and she was running low on “emotional strength” by the end. The three-time Canadian champion received a score of 142.15 for the effort resulting in a total competition score of 218.13. The Four Continents silver medalist’s only mistake came on a step out of a double Axel. “I doubted whether I’d compete at my best ever again, and finally this year, that doubt has slowly been washed away”. “I didn’t know where he was or were my mom (Rhonda) was in the crowd”.

If the veterans were feeling any nerves in their first world appearance in three years, they didn’t show it.

If we lose something that is figure skating, then we’re going to lose everything. “I just want to keep going with that”. “We worked hard, we prepared, but we felt the pressure today”. “This is probably the most prepared we’ve been for a World Championships arguably in our whole career”.

Virtue, a 27-year-old from London, Ont., and Moir, a 29-year-old from nearby Ilderton, Ont., have dominated this season after taking a two-year competitive hiatus.