Olympic Games 2014 - Men's Free Skate
After breaking his own record for a short programme score, Yuzuru Hanyu seems unstoppable in his quest to win the Olympic Gold Medal, but another record-breaker, Patrick Chan, is just a step behind the Japanese. On third and fourth, are Javier Fernandez and Daisuke Takahashi dueling for the Bronze or are their eyes set on a bigger prize?
Zoltan Kelemen's first presence in an Olympic final is nowhere near his best. He has three falls and a step-out of the Triple Axel. His score: 98.35. Overall: 158.76.
Abzal Rakimgaliev's re-enact of Once Upon a Time in America comes in a somewhat curious costume (is that a scarf?), but seems awfully long. Technically, he has a couple of mistakes and a hand down. It's good to see Kazakhstan is pushing forward in figure skating. He gets 110.22 points. Overall: 174.40.
Viktor Romanenkov falls on the first Triple Axel and things go downhill from there. The story of Carmen simply fades away in the light of such a mistake-filled routine. His score: 78.44. Overall: 139.99.
Misha Ge has showman-blood running through his veins. From the red hair matching the red flowers on the costume, to the flawless jumps, to the excellent dance steps and brilliant interpretation, his routine feels like a veritable exhibition show. Great things expect him if he can learn to jump Quads. He gets 135.19 points. Overall: 203.26.
Jorik Hendrickx is one of those skaters who can jump by the book, which makes me wonder if perfect jumping techniques come with Belgian blood (remember Kevin Van Der Perren, 'The Jumping Machine'?) He does however over-rotate both Triple Axels. His score: 141.52. Overall: 214.04.
Jeremy Abbott lets go of the Quad, but after yesterday's scary fall, nobody blames him for it. It was a good decision for his performance as well because with no Quad to mess up with his head, he lands every single jump perfectly. He gets 160.12 points. Overall: 232.70.
Florent Amodio's adorable sad face wins the audience from the very start. Unfortunately, he finishes with a more serious, but still sad face. As mistakes go, we see almost everything in this routine: singles, doubles, step-outs, hands on the ice... His choreography was very smartly put together though, emphasizing what he does best: dance latino rhythms. His score: 123.06. Overall: 198.64.
It's sad to know a talent such as Tomas Verner lost his passion for the sport, but it's good to see him back on track. Even though he falls on the first Quad and continues with a few minor mistakes, this tango routine feels like a proper comeback for him. He gets 151.90 points. Overall: 232.99.
Kevin Reynolds is the first skater of the night to try three Quads. He seems ready to go into battle with his best rivals, which might preview what we'll see this year at the Worlds. His score: 153.47. Overall: 222.23.
Last year he was an artist, this year Denis Ten becomes a hooligan, but keeps the classy act. And because being a hooligan is tiresome, he has a hand down on the Triple Flip and steps out of the Double Axel, both of which come at the end. He gets 171.04 points. Overall: 255.10.
Brian Joubert takes full advantage of his last chance to impress at an Olympic final. He lands both his Quads and has no error, although he doubles the Triple Lutz. It's strange seeing him skate on Concierto de Aranjuez, after claiming classical music is not his piece of cake, but there's no better way of ending your career than by taking on your biggest obstacle and coming out victorious. His score: 145.93. Overall: 231.77.
Alexander Majorov sinks his skates deep into Egyptian curses, but has some trouble with the jumps and over-rotates the Quad Toeloop. He gets 141.05 points. Overall: 224.86.
Michal Brezina has an annoying habit of missing elements when you least expect it. He shoots too high this time and falls on a Triple Toeloop, after two great Quads. Another silly miss is the single instead of Triple Axel. The presentation however is an exact depiction of the enigmatic Sherlock Holmes. His score: 151.67. Overall: 233.62.
Han Yan sure knows how to waltz! His two mistakes are jumping a single instead of a Triple Loop and putting a hand down on the Triple Lutz. He could also use a bit more practice in the interpretation department. He gets 160.54 points. Overall: 246.20.
Tatsuki Machida falls on the first Quad Toeloop, but is quickly back in the air, jumping the second one, this time with a clean landing. The music is the oh-so-famous Firebird, written by Igor Straviski to honour the Russian legend of a miraculous bird. His score: 169.94. Overall: 253.43.
Two Quads and a sexy Peter Gunn routine later, Javier Fernandez could still win a Bronze medal for Europe. However, after a double Lutz and a step-out on the Triple Axel, the cards are no longer in his hands. He gets 166.94 points. Overall: 253.92.
We'll always love Daisuke Takahashi and he'll always remain the most elegant of skaters, but there are high chances that he'll miss the podium this time. He double-foots both the Quad Toeloop and the Triple Axel. His score: 164.27. Overall: 250.67.
Your own nerves can bring you down faster than any rival in figure skating, which almost happens to Yuzuru Hanyu. After falling on the Quad Salchows, he can't keep the landing of the Triple Flip clean. Even if he doesn't win, time is not lost, as the Japanese is only 19 years old. He gets 178.64 points. Overall: 280.09.
This particular Olympic Gold Medal is playing hard to catch as Patrick Chan joins the ranks of brilliant skaters who just can't keep it fully together. He has two hands down on a Quad and a Triple Axel, and is literally out of breath at the end of the routine. His score: 178.10. Overall: 275.62.
Peter Liebers is having the time of his life here, despite the fall on the Quad Toeloop. He's been put together with the very best, some of which he probably admires, and that is both a success for him and a proof for us that there's more to him than we thought. He gets 153.83 points. Overall: 239.87.
Jason Brown can't affect the podium with no Quad, even though he's excellent artistically, but some day, once that Quad becomes his friend, this guy will be unstoppable. His score: 152.37. Overall: 239.87.
After a free skate full of suspense, Yuzuru Hanyu becomes Olympic Champion at just 19. On second comes the worthy Patrick Chan and because unexpected things come from unexpected places in figure skating, Denis Ten manages an astonishing comeback and wins the Bronze medal. Congratulations to all three of them!
Zoltan Kelemen's first presence in an Olympic final is nowhere near his best. He has three falls and a step-out of the Triple Axel. His score: 98.35. Overall: 158.76.
Abzal Rakimgaliev's re-enact of Once Upon a Time in America comes in a somewhat curious costume (is that a scarf?), but seems awfully long. Technically, he has a couple of mistakes and a hand down. It's good to see Kazakhstan is pushing forward in figure skating. He gets 110.22 points. Overall: 174.40.Viktor Romanenkov falls on the first Triple Axel and things go downhill from there. The story of Carmen simply fades away in the light of such a mistake-filled routine. His score: 78.44. Overall: 139.99.
Misha Ge has showman-blood running through his veins. From the red hair matching the red flowers on the costume, to the flawless jumps, to the excellent dance steps and brilliant interpretation, his routine feels like a veritable exhibition show. Great things expect him if he can learn to jump Quads. He gets 135.19 points. Overall: 203.26.
Jorik Hendrickx is one of those skaters who can jump by the book, which makes me wonder if perfect jumping techniques come with Belgian blood (remember Kevin Van Der Perren, 'The Jumping Machine'?) He does however over-rotate both Triple Axels. His score: 141.52. Overall: 214.04.
Jeremy Abbott lets go of the Quad, but after yesterday's scary fall, nobody blames him for it. It was a good decision for his performance as well because with no Quad to mess up with his head, he lands every single jump perfectly. He gets 160.12 points. Overall: 232.70.
Florent Amodio's adorable sad face wins the audience from the very start. Unfortunately, he finishes with a more serious, but still sad face. As mistakes go, we see almost everything in this routine: singles, doubles, step-outs, hands on the ice... His choreography was very smartly put together though, emphasizing what he does best: dance latino rhythms. His score: 123.06. Overall: 198.64.
It's sad to know a talent such as Tomas Verner lost his passion for the sport, but it's good to see him back on track. Even though he falls on the first Quad and continues with a few minor mistakes, this tango routine feels like a proper comeback for him. He gets 151.90 points. Overall: 232.99.
Kevin Reynolds is the first skater of the night to try three Quads. He seems ready to go into battle with his best rivals, which might preview what we'll see this year at the Worlds. His score: 153.47. Overall: 222.23.
Brian Joubert takes full advantage of his last chance to impress at an Olympic final. He lands both his Quads and has no error, although he doubles the Triple Lutz. It's strange seeing him skate on Concierto de Aranjuez, after claiming classical music is not his piece of cake, but there's no better way of ending your career than by taking on your biggest obstacle and coming out victorious. His score: 145.93. Overall: 231.77.
Alexander Majorov sinks his skates deep into Egyptian curses, but has some trouble with the jumps and over-rotates the Quad Toeloop. He gets 141.05 points. Overall: 224.86.
Michal Brezina has an annoying habit of missing elements when you least expect it. He shoots too high this time and falls on a Triple Toeloop, after two great Quads. Another silly miss is the single instead of Triple Axel. The presentation however is an exact depiction of the enigmatic Sherlock Holmes. His score: 151.67. Overall: 233.62.
Han Yan sure knows how to waltz! His two mistakes are jumping a single instead of a Triple Loop and putting a hand down on the Triple Lutz. He could also use a bit more practice in the interpretation department. He gets 160.54 points. Overall: 246.20.
Tatsuki Machida falls on the first Quad Toeloop, but is quickly back in the air, jumping the second one, this time with a clean landing. The music is the oh-so-famous Firebird, written by Igor Straviski to honour the Russian legend of a miraculous bird. His score: 169.94. Overall: 253.43.
Two Quads and a sexy Peter Gunn routine later, Javier Fernandez could still win a Bronze medal for Europe. However, after a double Lutz and a step-out on the Triple Axel, the cards are no longer in his hands. He gets 166.94 points. Overall: 253.92.
We'll always love Daisuke Takahashi and he'll always remain the most elegant of skaters, but there are high chances that he'll miss the podium this time. He double-foots both the Quad Toeloop and the Triple Axel. His score: 164.27. Overall: 250.67.
This particular Olympic Gold Medal is playing hard to catch as Patrick Chan joins the ranks of brilliant skaters who just can't keep it fully together. He has two hands down on a Quad and a Triple Axel, and is literally out of breath at the end of the routine. His score: 178.10. Overall: 275.62.
Peter Liebers is having the time of his life here, despite the fall on the Quad Toeloop. He's been put together with the very best, some of which he probably admires, and that is both a success for him and a proof for us that there's more to him than we thought. He gets 153.83 points. Overall: 239.87.
Jason Brown can't affect the podium with no Quad, even though he's excellent artistically, but some day, once that Quad becomes his friend, this guy will be unstoppable. His score: 152.37. Overall: 239.87.
After a free skate full of suspense, Yuzuru Hanyu becomes Olympic Champion at just 19. On second comes the worthy Patrick Chan and because unexpected things come from unexpected places in figure skating, Denis Ten manages an astonishing comeback and wins the Bronze medal. Congratulations to all three of them!
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