Figure Skating

US champion Jeremy Abbott was the surprise men's leader at Skate Canada as world silver medallist Patrick Chan struggled through his short programme to wind up back in sixth. But home fans had something to cheer as Canada's other world silver medallist Joannie Rochette topped the women's leaderboard with a flawless short programme that earned a career-best score of 70.0 at this, the final stop of six in the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix. Abbott finessed his way through his short programme set to the bluesy Beatles tune A Day in the Life, hitting every triple jump and engaging the audience with his choreography. ... Read Full Story

US and Grand Prix Final champion Jeremy Abbott, the overnight men's leader, held on to win gold on Saturday at Skate Canada International. Despite finishing second to Japan's Daisuke Takahashi in the final free skate, Abbott's almost three-point lead from the opening short programme kept him on top. His final score totalled 232.99 to Takahashi's 231.31. Takahashi is on the rebound after missing all of last season following knee surgery. The bronze medal went to Frenchman Alban Preaubert who climbed from fourth but, points-wise, remained well back of the front-runners with 212.28. Top seed Patrick Chan, the world silver medallist who is coming off ... Read Full Story

Reigning two-time world pairs champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy captured gold at Skate Canada on Saturday with a brand new programme set to the film soundtrack Out of Africa. After the Grand Prix in France where the German pair had a disastrous skate in the finale and settled for bronze, Savchenko and Szolkowy decided to create a new free skating routine. They were clearly happy with this choice following Saturday's debut. En route to the gold, the Germans held the audience spellbound and scored 132.55 for the near flawless performance. They earned 206.71 points in all. Russia's Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov also ... Read Full Story

Canada's world silver medallist Joannie Rochette skated to the top of the women's leaderboard at Skate Canada on Friday with a flawless short programme that earned a personal best score of 70.0. In other early action at the sixth and final stop in the ISU figure skating Grand Prix series, Germany's reigning two-time world pairs champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy turned in a poignant performance to Send in the Clowns to take a sizeable lead in their opening round. Rochette, 23, delighted fans with her sensuous, tango-themed programme which included a solid triple lutz-double toe jump combination followed by a perfectly executed triple ... Read Full Story

Japan's 2006 Olympic champion Shizuka Arakawa telephoned Akiko Suzuki to offer some advice after the unheralded Japanese woman posted a surprise win at the ISU Grand Prix in China last month. On Thursday as Suzuki cooled down following a successful practice session here at Skate Canada International, she shared Arakawa's message with a throng of Japanese and international journalists. Arakawa told her countrywoman not to feel pressure, but to focus on the chance this last of six events in the Grand Prix series presents to qualify for the prestigious Grand Prix final. Arakawa told Suzuki that from pressure can come power. At 24, Suzuki ... Read Full Story