MEN MAINTAIN THREE SPOTS FOR 2016 WORLDS
Jason Brown finished fourth in Shanghai, marking the highest World finish for a U.S. man since Evan Lysacek won the title in 2009. Making his World Championships debut, Brown earned a person- al-best 248.29 points. Six of the eight jumping elements in his free skate to Tristan and Iseult took place in the second half of the program for a highlight distribution bonus of 10 percent. He earned 163.97 points for the segment, fighting back from sixth place after the short program to help secure the U.S. men three spots at the 2016 World Championships on home soil. “I’m so proud that the U.S. men have three spots going into Worlds
next year in Boston,” Brown said. “It’s crazy to be fourth in the world. I couldn’t ask for anything more right now. I skated the best that I could in those moments.” Brown faced stiff competition in the battle for the podium, as each of the medalists flip-flopped between segments and in the final standings. Spain’s Javier Fernandez ultimately took home gold — despite placing sec- ond in both programs — ahead of Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu, who took silver after being third in the free skate and first in the short program. Kazakhstan’s Denis Ten won bronze with a winning free skate and the third-best short program. Each of the top three men completed beautiful quadruple jumps
throughout their two performances, while Brown opted not to try the four-revolution jump after his first competitive attempt at the element was downgraded at the Four Continents Championships. Team USA’s Adam Rippon was the only man to try a quadruple Lutz
Gracie Gold Ashley Wagner
in Shanghai, but his attempt in the short program was downgraded by the technical panel, and he popped the jump into a double in the free skate. Still, two triple Axels in his program to Franz Liszt’s “Piano Concerto No. 1” helped him climb from 11th place after the short to eighth overall. “It definitely wasn’t my best today,” Rippon said after the free skate. “I
had a few troubles with the jumps, but after my short program, I wanted to perform and give a nice long program performance. I felt free out there. Maybe a little bit too free, making that mistake on the quad. I never gave up throughout the program. Coming away, I’m happy to be in the top 10.”
Jason Brown
SKATING 25
PHOTOS BY XIAOLU CHU/GETTY IMAGES
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