Russia's Tuktamysheva wins ladies at ISU figure skating worlds

Gold medalist in ladies singles Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia. [Photo/sipa]

SHANGHAI - Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia dominated the free skate and won the ladies title at the ISU Figure Skating World Championships here on Saturday.

The reigning European champion, who stunned the world with a clean triple axel in her short program Thursday, nailed a triple lutz and double toeloop and double loop, a triple lutz, a triple flip in the beginning of her dance, and finished a double axel and single loop and a triple salchow. Her sequence was smooth and spins beautiful. The 18-year-old scored 132.74 in her free skate and totaled 210.36 to lift the title.

Japan's two time Four Continents runner-up Satoko Myahara took the silver with a 126.58-point free skate and 193.60 overall. Another Russian Elena Radionova, 2015 European silver medallist, came third with 121.96 in free skate and 191.47 in total.

"I can't believe it yet," said the winner. "I was tight, since I knew even with my advantage in points from the short program I couldn't make any major mistakes. With two major mistakes the advantage would have been gone. It would have been a shame to lose."

"It's a successful season for me," said the 2015 Grand Prix final champion Tuktamysheva. "I kept a high level and skated really well. But today my performance was not as good as my short program, and I hope I can finish a triple axel in free skate in the future."

Tuktamysheva failed to make the 2014 Sochi Games and went through a difficult season. "Last season was very tough. But my coach believed me, and I believed myself. I am happy to overcome such a difficult time and come back so strong this season," said she, who broke her foot last March.

17-year-old Miyahara was satisfied with her world championships debut. "I have some regrets, because the second lutz wasn't good enough, I put my hand down. But overall my performance was pretty satisfactory. I got a season best with this performance which was my goal," said the 2015 national champion.

Radionova said she still could not believe her bronze. "I am not feeling well because in the end I am tired and not strong enough. I made mistakes on the last two jumps," said the two time world junior champion.

Gracie Gold of United States, fourth at the 2014 Sochi Games, finished second in the free skate but ranked fourth overall with 188.96 as she made several mistakes in short program.

"It's always hard to skate a long program after a rough short program, because if you can't get through a short well, how could you go through a long program well?" She said. "Like I said before this competition I trained really hard and I've been very consistent so I just knew that I have to bend my knees and take my breath, and skate the program like I do at practice."

China's Li Zijun, 2014 Four Continents bronze medallist, fell twice on her jumps and only ranked ninth at last.

"I am sorry for today and it was not my normal," she said. "Many unforeseen circumstances happened today. Actually I felt a little depressed because I did while in short program but I had some mistakes today."

"I need to improve my energy, as in the second half of the free skate I felt really tired," she added.