Figure skating: Abbott defends US men’s title
Spokane (AFP) – Jeremy Abbott defended his men’s title at the US Figure Skating Championships and clinched a berth in the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games by winning the free skate Sunday.
The 24-year-old Abbott breezed to victory with a overall score of 263.66 points to finish well ahead of 2009 World Champion Evan Lysacek.
“I’m speechless,” Abbott said. “Last year, this is what I thought my first title would feel like, but here I am a second time. It just feels like the first time.”
Skating to the music Saen-Sans’ Symphony No. 3, Abbott set the tone for his skate by completing a quadruple toe loop.
“After the quad, it was business as usual,” Abbott said. “I still had seven jumping passes and eight triple jumps to do. I stuck to my plan, stayed focused, and finally did what I’ve been doing in practice.”
Three-time national champion Johnny Weir placed third overall. He was third after the short programme then dropped to fifth in the free skate.
Abbott, Lysacek and Weir will represent the US at next month’s Olympic Winter Games.
Ryan Bradley placed fourth overall and Adam Rippon, who was fourth in the short programme, rounded out the top five.
Lysacek was second after the short programme but finished third in the free skate by completing six triple jumps.
“Some things didn’t go as I had hoped them to go, but some things did go as I had planned them to go obviously,” Lysacek said. “I have mixed feelings today.”
