Yuzuru Hanyu wins record fourth straight Grand Prix Final; Nathan Chen on podium
By Nick ZaccardiDec 10, 2016, 6:35 PM EST
Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu became the first singles skater to win four straight Grand Prix Finals, while 17-year-old Nathan Chen is the second-youngest men's medalist in the event's 22-year history.
The Olympic champion Hanyu held on to win despite scoring 10 points fewer than Chen in the free skate in Marseille, France, on Saturday.
Chen finished second, 11.05 points behind, rising from fifth of six skaters after Thursday's short program.
"It's kind of a shock," said Chen, the U.S. bronze medalist who is in his first season as a senior skater. "I wasn't really expecting to be able to come out with a medal here."
Chen landed four quadruple jumps in his free skate with no falls after erring on both of his quads in the short program.
Hanyu fell once and singled a Lutz, scoring 32.11 points fewer than his record free skate last year.
"I feel total disappointment with my long program," Hanyu said to open the post-event press conference. "But the result is good."
Chen became the first U.S. men's medalist at the Grand Prix Final since Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir earned gold and bronze in 2009.
Only Russian Yevgeny Plushenko won a men's Grand Prix Final medal at a younger age, a bronze at 16 in the 1998-99 season.
U.S. champion Adam Rippon fell three times Saturday and finished last of six skaters.
Chen, the darling attraction of the 2010 U.S. Championships at age 10, is now the clear favorite for the U.S. Championships in January. Chen can become the youngest U.S. champion since Scott Allen in 1966.
"There's always room to improve in terms of artistry and stuff like that," said Chen, who has been working with noted ice dance coach and choreographer Marina Zoueva this fall. "I guess that will be the biggest goal for me next."
NBCSN will air Grand Prix Final coverage Sunday from 8:30-11 p.m. ET.
MORE: Javier Fernandez builds toward last Olympic chance
GOLD: Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) — 293.90
SILVER: Nathan Chen (USA) — 282.85
BRONZE: Shoma Uno (JPN) — 282.51
4. Javier Fernandez (ESP) — 268.77
5. Patrick Chan (CAN) — 266.75
6. Adam Rippon (USA) — 233.10
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