Paris (AFP)
American Nathan Chen took the lead in the prestigious Grand Prix final on Thursday in Turin, dominating his opponents, starting with Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu in the men's short program.
At 20, Chen, gold medal last season, won the first stage of the duel with the summit against Hanyu (110.38 against 97.43).
Chen thus broke his own personal record and finished at 0.15 point of the world record, set by ... Hanyu in Moscow in 2018.
The Frenchman Kevin Aymoz also achieved a good performance by winning 3rd place for his first qualification in the final.
The evening had begun badly for the double champion of France (2017, 2019): Aymoz opened the debates but it is the bad music which rose in the rink Turin.
Visibly undisturbed, after a few seconds of confusion, the 22-year-old Frenchman improved his personal record to 96.71 points.
On the couples side, the Chinese Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, two-time world champions (2017 and 2019), also took on the status of favorites by winning the short program, but narrowly, with 77.50 points (less than one point ahead), in front of three Russian pairs.
Aleksandra Boikova-Dmitrii Kozlovskii (76.65) and Daria Pavliuchenkova-Denis Khodykin (75.16) complete the podium.
The Grand Prix continues on Friday, with the ladies and the dance, before the free program on Saturday.
Short program gentlemen:
1. Nathan Chen (USA) 110.38 pts
2. Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) 97.43
3. Kevin Aymoz (FRA) 96.71
4. Dmitri Aliyev (RUS) 88.78
5. Alexander Samarin (RUS) 81.32
6. Jin Boyang (CHN) 80.67
Short program couples:
1. Sui Wenjing / Han Cong (CHN) 77.50 pts
2. Aleksandra Boikova / Dimitrii Kozlovskii (RUS) 76.65
3. Daria Pavliuchenkova / Denis Khodykin (RUS) 75.16
4. Anastasia Mishina / Aleksandr Galliamov (RUS) 71,48
5. Peng Cheng / Jin Yang (CHN) 69.67
6. Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro (CAN) 67.08
© 2019 AFP