Javier Fernández ran away the lead in the short program at Internationaux de France by an almost 14-point margin. The Spanish star laid down a performance that earned a standing ovation from the crowd in the arena and brought online audiences around the world to their feet.
Fernández opened his Charlie Chaplin routine with a quad toe-triple toe combination and followed up with a quad Salchow, triple Axel as well as level-four spins and footwork. The five-time European Champion posted a season’s best with 107.86 points for a strong lead. “It was a good day,” the two-time World champion said. “After my first Grand Prix, I needed a good skate and to be able to smile. It is sometimes hard with all the work and the pressure. The competition isn’t done yet. We still have tomorrow – that is going to be even harder – but I think we started this competition with the right direction and I’m excited for tomorrow to finish this competition with a very good result.”
His performance earned him a runaway victory in the segment over Japan’s Shoma Uno and Alexander Samarin of Russia.
Fernández went on to win the event, capturing the seventh and final Grand Prix gold medal of his career.
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