Skating Worlds: “Very disappointed”, Frenchman Adam Siao Him Fa abandons all hope of a medal

It’s a real disappointment for French skating. The Frenchman Adam Siao Him Fa has already lost any chance of a medal at the World Figure Skating Championships after a completely failed short program this Thursday in Montreal (Canada), far behind the aerialist Shoma Uno.

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. “I’m very disappointed and it’s all the more frustrating because it was the biggest competition of the season and that’s where I felt the most ready physically and mentally,” regretted the 23-year-old skater, who could legitimately dream of a podium.

“To be able to analyze, I would have to sit down and be able to take a step back,” he continued. “I had all the keys in mind. » The young Frenchman, double European champion, who was the last to start, 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.

The podium already too far

Siao Him Fa was however one of the strong men of the season, notably with two Grand Prix victories and a second European championship title won with panache last January. Weakened by an injury to his left foot, he had already missed his Worlds last year, finishing in 10th position. The other Frenchman in the running Luc Economides provisionally occupies 22nd position with 74.02 points.

Far in front, 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” by the group Imagine Dragons. 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 which to date he is the only one to master . Barring any major surprises, the podium will be decided between these three big names, with the fourth in the provisional ranking, the American Jason Brown, 12 points behind third place.