Flawless Nathan Chen edges Hanyu to retain world skate title

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Defending champion Nathan Chen of the United States won the men's singles gold medal at the Figure Skating World Championships in Saitama, Japan, on Saturday.

The 19-year-old, who dominated Thursday's short skate, delivered a strong free skate after watching Japan's home favorite Yuzuru Hanyu break the world record, only to smash it again himself, scoring 216.02 points for a winning total of 323.42.

Nathan Chen competes in the Men Free Skating at the 2019 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan, March 23, 2019. /VCG Photo

Olympic champion Hanyu just recently returned from an ankle injury that forced him out of competiton last December. He took second with an overall 300.97, becoming the first skater to clear the 300-point mark.

But despite the immense pressure, Chen hit back with interest, crushing four gorgeous quadruple jumps, including a quad toe-loop, triple toe-loop combination he executed in an apparently effortless manner.

A shattered Hanyu could barely conceal his disappointment after failing to win a third world title.

"Honestly, I'm gutted to lose, but I have to accept that I just wasn't good enough," said the two-time Olympic gold medalist.

"Figure skating is about being in the zone over two days and I didn't do that. I have to go away now and work out a way to come back stronger," Hanyu added.

Yuzuru Hanyu competes in the Men Free Skating at the 2019 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan, March 23, 2019. /VCG Photo

Another American skater Vincent Zhou of the United States came third in 281.16.

Japan's Shoma Uno trailed in 270.32.

China's Jin Boyang finished fifth in 262.71.

Earlier in the day, French ice dancers Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron became four-time world champions with a flawless free routine.

(With input from agencies)