Grand Prix Final 2015 - The Main Event (Men SP)

Six events, six countries, tens of talented skaters, and it's all wrapping up in a three-day final that is sure to be spectacular. Welcome to Barcelona and the 2015 figure skating Grand Prix Final!

The boy's event is undoubtedly going to be the most thrilling. It reunites three great rivals for the first time in two years: Yuzuru Hanyu, Javier Fernandez and Patrick Chan. After the Japanese's record-breaking performance in Nagano a couple of weeks ago, it's not hard to see the balance leaning in his favour. But you can never be sure of anything in figure skating, so let's see what happens:

The fact that Daisuke Murakami is the underdog here shows what a high level figure skating is at right now. Despite the hand on the ice on the triple Lutz and doubling out of the triple Toeloop, his artistry is sublime. The song is Bring Him Home by Josh Groban. His score: 83.47.

Patrick Chan's style is more relaxed than ever, but maybe that's a problem. Or maybe he's simply not quite back into it after his year of absence. Whatever the reason, he cannot jump the quad and only manages a triple Toeloop. The music, Mack the Knife by Michael Buble. He gets 70.61 points.

I don't think China's ever brought on the ice the amount of talent Boyang Jin has. He's definitely a game-changer on the international stage too, with two quads in the short. He has a hand down on the Lutz though and double-foots the landing of the Toeloop. His spins are unbelievable. His score: 86.95.

Yuzuru Hanyu keeps breaking records wherever he goes
Photo: Reuters
The crowd gets into the groove with Shoma Uno. Although he falls on the quad Toeloop, he is still beaming by the end because he is in Barcelona, sharing a playground with the best skaters in the world. This might not be it, but he will get his big shot one day too. He gets 86.47 points.

Yuzuru Hanyu might just be the finest skater to have ever stepped on ice; no, scratch that - he is the finest. There's not much to say about his performance; that's how absolutely flawless it is. It must not be easy to keep his cool on Chopin while the crowd loses its mind after every single element. He's going to win this! His score: 110.95.

Javier Fernandez and his main rival show us what sportsmanship is really about as they cheer for each other before the Spaniard's programme. That makes my night. He steps out of the quad Salchow and doubles the triple Toeloop, but artistically - don't shoot me for this - I prefer his programme. It just feels authentic - the music, his nationality, the choreography, just wonderful. He gets 91.52 points.

Well, that is a short programme to remember! Should I just congratulate Yuzuru Hanyu for his victory now? It's lovely to see him smash every single record there ever was because he deserves all the glory. It's also heartwarming to see his friendship with Javier Fernandez, who finishes today on second place. China's Boyang Jin is third.

Comments

  1. Out of this world!

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  2. Yuzuru is amazing!

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  3. So amazing. Super men!

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  4. Yuzuru and Brian

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    Replies
    1. And Javi too!! It's great to see the way he and Yuzuru cheer for each other.

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  5. It was everything it was advertized it to be. I called it the clash of titans, and it most certainly was.

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  6. WHAT THE. Patrick though :(

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