Yuzuru Hanyu won Rostelecom Cup by nearly 30 points, then hopped on a crutch backstage.
The double Olympic champion twisted his right ankle in a hard practice fall Saturday morning, then several hours later had the highest-scoring free skate with three quadruple jumps.
Hanyu said he is uncertain for the Grand Prix Final in three weeks -- and a showdown with Olympic silver medalist Shoma Uno and, likely, world champion Nathan Chen -- according to The Associated Press.
“It really hurts,” Hanyu said, according to Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. “This injury made me change my program, and sadly I couldn’t perform the way I wanted. I could have done better.”
ROSTELECOM CUP: Results | TV/Stream Schedule
Hanyu apologized to a TV camera following his free skate, after falling and popping an Axel on his last two jumps.
Last November, Hanyu damaged right ankle ligaments in a practice fall, forcing him off the ice for more than a month. He said this injury is not as bad. Still, coach Brian Orser said “it was a big question” whether Hanyu would withdraw before the free skate, according to Olympic Channel.
Hanyu endured, taking out the quadruple loop that he fell on in practice but still adding 10 points to his lead from Friday’s short program. For the first time in nine seasons, Hanyu won his two Grand Prix Series qualifying events, cruising into December’s exclusive, six-skater Grand Prix Final.
Georgian Morisi Kvitelashvili took second, followed by Japanese Kazuki Tomono.
Two other men who came to Moscow with Grand Prix Final hopes -- Russian Mikhail Kolyada and Canadian Keegan Messing -- struggled in Friday’s short program and could not get onto the podium, placing fourth and fifth. They won’t be at the Final, assuming Chen finishes in the top six at next week’s event in France.
Rostelecom Cup continues later Saturday with the free programs for ice dance, pairs and women, streaming live on NBC Sports Gold.
As a reminder, you can watch the ISU Grand Prix Series live and on-demand with the ‘Figure Skating Pass’ on NBC Sports Gold. GO HERE to sign up for access to every ISU Grand Prix and championship event, as well as domestic U.S. Figure Skating events throughout the season…NBC Sports Gold gives subscribers an unprecedented level of access on more platforms and devices than ever before.
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