Hanyu breaks own short program world record in Moscow

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Reigning Olympic champions and star attractions Yuzuru Hanyu and Alina Zagitova broke the men's and women's short program world records with magnificent displays at the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow on Friday.

Japanese great Hanyu, who took Olympic gold in Sochi and Pyeongchang, earned a stunning 110.53 points for a flawless rendition of his short program routine to Raul Di Blasio's "Otonal" at the Megasport Arena.

Hanyu, also a two-time world champion, is bidding to win both of his ISU Grand Prix events in the same season for the first time in his career.

His score ensured that he reclaimed the record from compatriot and rival Shoma Uno, who had posted 104.15 in Italy in September.

"I can't say my skating today was perfect but in general I'm satisfied with my skate," Hanyu said. "I didn't have too much time to prepare for this GP stage.

"In general I feel good. I don't know about tomorrow but I will try to do my best for tomorrow, too."

Russia's Olympic champion Alina Zagitovain competes in the Ladies Short Program at the Rostelecom Cup, Moscow, November 16, 2018. /VCG Photo

Home darling Zagitova, still only 16, wowed the crowd with a mark of 80.78 points for her routine later in the day to beat her own previous record of 79.93.

Zagitova, who is hoping to back up her recent victory in Helsinki, dominated the women's section with a clean execution of her short program to the "The Phantom of the Opera" soundtrack by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

She moved 13.38 points clear of second-placed compatriot Sofia Samodurova, the Skate America bronze medallist.

"I'm happy that I managed to gather all of my strength to show my best in front of my home crowd in Moscow," Zagitova said.

"Now I feel much more confident than I felt at the beginning of this season. I worked really hard in practice and now I have the feeling that it's beginning to pay off."

Source(s): AFP