The globalization of figure skating has never been more on display as it was at the 2013 World Figure Skating Championships, which concluded yesterday in London, Ontario, Canada. It featured the most diverse Worlds podiums in the history of the sport, with nine different countries taking home one or more of the 12 medals awarded.
Related: List of qualifiers for Sochi
In a sport dominated by countries like Canada, Japan, Russia, and the United States, two countries - Kazakhstan and Spain - won medals for the first time ever, while lesser-represented countries like Germany, Italy, and South Korea had their superstars back on the podium. In the end, it was the host country that won the most number of medals - one of each color - to close out the competition.
MEN: Controversial finish
The men's event was full of surprises. On paper, the fact that Canada's own Patrick Chan won his third consecutive World title is not unexpected, but the way he won it sure was. After a brilliant world record short program that put him in the lead by almost seven points, Chan had to use almost every one of those points to maintain his lead after making multiple mistakes in his free skate.
- Men's short program
Videos/Play-by-play | Recap | Photos 1 | Photos 2 - Men's free skate
Videos/Play-by-play | Recap | Photos 1 | Photos 2
But it was Kazakhstani phenom Denis Ten who stole the show, winning the free skate and finishing with the silver, just over a point behind Chan. The final placements will be debated for years to come. European champion Javier Fernandez came back from a popped triple axel that left him in seventh after the short program to win the bronze. Both medals were historic, as Kazakhstan (Ten) and Spain (Fernandez) were on the World podium for the first time in the history of the sport.
The Japanese men, meanwhile, were shut out of the medals for the first time since 2009. Defending bronze medalist Yuzuru Hanyu played catch-up after a subpar short program to finish fourth, while 2010 World champ Daisuke Takahashi was sixth.
LADIES: Return of the champ
There was no dispute as to who the best skater was in the ladies' event. Olympic champion Yuna Kim, skating in her first Worlds since taking silver in 2011, delivered two flawless programs to win her second World title by over 20 points. Defending champion Carolina Kostner fought off a nosebleed and eked out the silver over Olympic silver medalist Mao Asada. Asada's bronze was the sole medal for Japan at the World Championships this year.
- Ladies short program
Videos/Play-by-play | Recap | Photos 1 | Photos 2
- Ladies free skate
Videos/Play-by-play | Recap | Photos 1 | Photos 2
Though a medal was not in the cards, the American ladies still had plenty to celebrate, as Ashley Wagner (fifth) and Gracie Gold (sixth) placed high enough to earn the U.S. three spots at next year's Olympics. It will be the first time since 2008 that the American ladies will have three spots at a World Championships or Olympic Games.
PAIRS: Easy win
After being the bridesmaids for two years, it was finally time for Russia's Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov, who skated effortlessly, except for a fluke trip in their free skate, to finish the season undefeated. They have been nipping at the heels of four-time World champions Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy, who slipped to silver this year, but only on the strength of a throw triple axel at the end of their free skate.
- Pairs short program
Videos/Play-by-play | Recap | Photos 1 | Photos 2
- Pairs free skate
Videos/Play-by-play | Recap | Photos 1 | Photos 2
The home team, though, had much to be proud of, as Canadian champions Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford won the bronze and Canadian silver medalists Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch were fourth, both career bests. Duhamel/Radford's bronze is the first Canadian medal in pairs since 2008, when Jessica Dube/Bryce Davison won the bronze in Gothenburg, Sweden.
DANCE: Americans prevail
The Americans won their only medal at the World Championships, but it was a golden one. Meryl Davis/Charlie White won the dance title for the second time in three years with a world record short dance. They did it by defeating training mates and home favorites Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir, who won the silver, their sixth consecutive World medal.
The bronze was a very close one, with four teams within four points of each other from third to sixth. But it was Russia's Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev who held on to their third-place standing after the short dance, holding off Italy's Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte to take the bronze. Canadians Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje were fifth, followed by last year's bronze medalists, Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat, who made mistakes in their free dance and dropped to sixth.
2013 World Championships medal count
- Canada 3 - 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
- Russia 2 - 1 gold, 1 bronze
- South Korea 1 - 1 gold
- United States 1 - 1 gold
- Italy 1 - 1 silver
- Germany 1 - 1 silver
- Kazakhstan 1 - 1 silver
- Japan 1 - 1 bronze
- Spain 1 - 1 bronze
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