2014 World Championships - Men's Free Skate Highlights
Tatsuki Machida achieved the impossible just two days ago and defeated the Olympic champion. But Yuzuru Hanyu is not a name easily forgotten and he is sure to give a good fight today, as will Javier Fernandez, his practice mate and Europe's record-breaker champion. What about Tomas Verner - does he have a real chance at the podium?
Chafik Besseghier's costume is epic, but his interpretation of an Ancient Egyptian, not so much. The programme is definitely energetic, but there's only one reference to Egyptian mythology, which is supposedly what this is about. Very good technically though and not exactly inexpressive. His score: 147.39. Overall: 224.19.
Maxim Kovtun knows that the key to presenting classical music is a sense of grandeur. Skating on Tchaikovski's Piano Concerto No. 1, he replaces the first Quad with a parody of a jump, but gets back on track quickly. He gives off a vibe of urgency with this routine, which might as well be him trying to tell the story of the composer himself aspiring to immortality through his work. He gets 162.71 points. Overall: 247.37.
Tomas Verner can turn the charm on even when there's nothing else left. You can clearly see in his presentation that he is dancing the tango, but it's easier to count his successes than his failures: a Triple Flip and a Triple Axel. Despite the audience being very supportive, he seems utterly distressed after so many mistakes. His score: 134.06. Overall: 224.19.
Tatsuki Machida is well aware that you can't skate on Firebird without turning into an actual bird. His superb arm-work does just that. He is confident, exuding strength above everything else. Technically, the only error is an over-rotated Triple Loop. He gets 184.05 points. Overall: 282.26.
Han Yan sure loves his waltzes. Following the same dance pattern as in the short, he wears the part of the ballroom dancer quite well at times. Unfortunately, after the ugly fall on the Quad, the only facial expression he can pull off is that of worry. Other mistakes include doubling and singling Toeloops, as well as a Double Loop. His score: 145.21. Overall: 231.91.
Wow! Yuzuru Hanyu has never looked more grown-up than he does now. His Romeo and Juliet is sophisticated and the tragic fight for impossible love is so well presented, it makes you emotional just watching it. There is sheer beauty in this absolutely perfect performance. He gets 191.35 points. Overall: 282.59.
The words dashing and irresistible can easily be associated with Javier Fernandez's Peter Gunn rendition. He jumps those quads with such ease that they seem out-of-this-world, but he also singles a Triple Lutz. All in all, there's something very smooth and sexy about his interpretation and if he can't win the judges over, he can sure win the ladies. His score: 147.39. Overall: 224.19.
Takahiko Kozuka ends the competition almost unharmed. He does single a Triple Axel and puts his hand down on a couple of jumps, but there are no major mistakes. What mistakes are though, can distract from the actual presentation, which doesn't really stand out. He has some good entrances into the jumps and his costume is perfect for Camille Saint-Saens' Introduction and Rondo Capricioso. He gets 152.48 points. Overall: 238.02.
Japan takes (or rather keeps) home both gold and silver medals after two breath-taking performances, while Spain wins the Bronze for the second time in a row, making us, Europeans, very proud of our champion. Congratulations to these fabulous three skaters who write history one competition at a time!
Chafik Besseghier's costume is epic, but his interpretation of an Ancient Egyptian, not so much. The programme is definitely energetic, but there's only one reference to Egyptian mythology, which is supposedly what this is about. Very good technically though and not exactly inexpressive. His score: 147.39. Overall: 224.19.
Maxim Kovtun knows that the key to presenting classical music is a sense of grandeur. Skating on Tchaikovski's Piano Concerto No. 1, he replaces the first Quad with a parody of a jump, but gets back on track quickly. He gives off a vibe of urgency with this routine, which might as well be him trying to tell the story of the composer himself aspiring to immortality through his work. He gets 162.71 points. Overall: 247.37.
Tomas Verner can turn the charm on even when there's nothing else left. You can clearly see in his presentation that he is dancing the tango, but it's easier to count his successes than his failures: a Triple Flip and a Triple Axel. Despite the audience being very supportive, he seems utterly distressed after so many mistakes. His score: 134.06. Overall: 224.19.
Tatsuki Machida is well aware that you can't skate on Firebird without turning into an actual bird. His superb arm-work does just that. He is confident, exuding strength above everything else. Technically, the only error is an over-rotated Triple Loop. He gets 184.05 points. Overall: 282.26.Han Yan sure loves his waltzes. Following the same dance pattern as in the short, he wears the part of the ballroom dancer quite well at times. Unfortunately, after the ugly fall on the Quad, the only facial expression he can pull off is that of worry. Other mistakes include doubling and singling Toeloops, as well as a Double Loop. His score: 145.21. Overall: 231.91.
Wow! Yuzuru Hanyu has never looked more grown-up than he does now. His Romeo and Juliet is sophisticated and the tragic fight for impossible love is so well presented, it makes you emotional just watching it. There is sheer beauty in this absolutely perfect performance. He gets 191.35 points. Overall: 282.59.
The words dashing and irresistible can easily be associated with Javier Fernandez's Peter Gunn rendition. He jumps those quads with such ease that they seem out-of-this-world, but he also singles a Triple Lutz. All in all, there's something very smooth and sexy about his interpretation and if he can't win the judges over, he can sure win the ladies. His score: 147.39. Overall: 224.19.
Takahiko Kozuka ends the competition almost unharmed. He does single a Triple Axel and puts his hand down on a couple of jumps, but there are no major mistakes. What mistakes are though, can distract from the actual presentation, which doesn't really stand out. He has some good entrances into the jumps and his costume is perfect for Camille Saint-Saens' Introduction and Rondo Capricioso. He gets 152.48 points. Overall: 238.02.
Japan takes (or rather keeps) home both gold and silver medals after two breath-taking performances, while Spain wins the Bronze for the second time in a row, making us, Europeans, very proud of our champion. Congratulations to these fabulous three skaters who write history one competition at a time!
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