Hanyu leads as he bids for 4th straight Grand Prix Final win
MARSEILLE, France — Yuzuru Hanyu took the lead with an electrifying performance in the short program on Thursday to stay on course for a fourth straight Grand Prix Final figure skating title while Canada’s Patrick Chan was right behind him in second place.
In perfect rhythm to the funky sounds of “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince, the Olympic champion from Japan brought the crowd to its feet at the Palais Omnisport, as he recorded his season-best score of 106.53.
“This program can’t be completed without the audience,” Hanyu said through a translator. “When I got out on the ice this morning I felt really comfortable. I feel like my body was well rested.”
Chan, a three-time world champion from Toronto, had a score of 99.76 and two-time world champion Javier Fernandez was third with 91.76 after some sloppy errors.