Figure Skating Worlds: Frenchman Adam Siao Him Fa completely misses and abandons all hope of a medal

Avec une note de 77,49 points, le Bordelais Siao Him Fa pointe seulement en 19e position MAXPPP – CJ GUNTHER

Adam Siao Him Fa is in 19th position before the free program. He fell and missed two receptions. Big disappointment for the reigning European champion.  

The Frenchman abandoned any chance of a medal at the World Figure Skating Championships after a failed short program on Thursday in Montreal, where the Japanese Shoma Uno took the lead.

With a score of 77.49 points, Siao Him Fa is only in 19th position before the free scheduled for the night of Saturday to Sunday.

The 23-year-old skater began his performance with a backhand landing on his quadruple lutz, which prevented him from producing the planned jump combination. Another failed landing on the triple axel then a fall on his quadruple toe loop then heavily penalized him.

He could aim for the podium

Siao Him Fa was however one of the strong men of the season, notably with two Grand Prix victories and a second European champion title last January, and could legitimately dream of a first world podium.

The short program was dominated by double title holder Shoma Uno. The Japanese was able to express all his musicality during a program full of poetry and delicacy rewarded with 107.72 points.

He is ahead of his compatriot Yuma Kagiyama, who had set the bar very high at the opening of the last group of skaters with a program executed to perfection to the sound of the hit "Believer" from the group Imagine Dragons.

The Malinin Phenomenon

The Olympic vice-champion scored 106.35 points, just ahead of the phenomenon Ilia Malinin (105.97 pts).

Before the free program, the young American is in third position but can still pull out of his hat his lethal weapon, his famous quadruple axel, the most difficult jump in the skating repertoire and that’ to date he is the only one to master.