Yuzuru Hanyu broke his world record free skate and total scores for the second straight competition and became the first man to win three straight Grand Prix Finals in Barcelona on Saturday.
The Olympic champion landed three quadruple jumps and two triple Axels on Saturday. He scored 219.48 points for his free skate and 330.43 overall, both breaking his world records from NHK Trophy in Japan two weeks ago.
His margin of victory, 37.48 points, broke the Grand Prix Final record of 35.1 points under the decade-old scoring system set by Yevgeny Plushenko in 2004. No man, woman, pair or ice dance couple has ever won by the large of a margin at an Olympics, Worlds or Grand Prix Final.
Hanyu said the performance was “almost perfect.”
“I just want to do the perfect feeling,” said Hanyu, who also broke his short program world record from NHK on Friday and is the only man to clear 300 points. “I feel like score is score. My performance is my performance. That’s a difference, right?
“I’m really, really nervous, and I feel really heavy pressure today. So I wasn’t comfortable. Please tell me how do I get confidence in my performance?”
Spain’s Javier Fernandez took silver behind Hanyu for a second straight year with 292.95 total points, landing two quads clean and stepping out of the landing of a third in his free skate.
“After the short program, I know Yuzuru was way far away already,” said Fernandez, who trailed by 19.43 after the short program. “If he does a great program, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Japan’s Shoma Uno, the reigning World junior champion, earned bronze with 276.79 and two quads Saturday.
Canada’s Patrick Chan, a three-time World champion, improved from last place (sixth overall) after the short program to finish fourth.
NBC will air Grand Prix Final coverage Dec. 20 from 4-6 p.m. ET. The Grand Prix Final is the most prestigious annual competition outside of the World Championships.
The figure skating season continues with National Championships in Japan, Russia and the U.S. in December and January.
The World Championships are in Boston in late March and early April. Fernandez upset Hanyu at last season’s World Championships.
MORE: U.S. women miss medals at Grand Prix Final
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Not only he wins the gold medal, but he beats the world record along the way. Yuzuru Hanyu, magic. #GPFBarcelona pic.twitter.com/pT6IxTUJdI
— GPF Barcelona 2015 (@gpfbarcelona) December 12, 2015

Attorneys representing Usain Bolt demanded that a missing $12 million be returned to Bolt by Jan. 27, according to a letter sent to a Jamaican financial institution.
In the letter to Stocks and Securities Ltd. (SSL), an attorney wrote that Bolt’s account with SSL had $12,750,181.74 on Oct. 31, 2022. The balance is now $12,047.65, but Bolt has not made a withdrawal or transfer.
“We are now frighteningly instructed that mysteriously our client’s said account has been depleted,” the attorney wrote. “If this is correct, and we are hoping it is not, then a serious act of fraud, larceny or a combination of both have been committed against our client.”
The attorney wrote in Monday’s letter that, if the $12 million is not paid to Bolt within 10 days, legal action will be taken.
Last week, SSL said it became aware of fraudulent activity by a former employee, according to Jamaican media, which reported that Bolt wasn’t the only person whose account was affected.
SSL’s website states, “We understand that clients are anxious to receive more information and assure you that we are closely monitoring the matter throughout all the required steps and will alert our clients of the resolution as soon as that information is available.”
Last week, the Jamaica Financial Services Commission announced an investigation after “reports of allegations of fraud” at SSL. Then on Tuesday, the FSC said it assumed temporary management of SSL.
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The University of Southern California renamed its track and field venue after alum Allyson Felix, the most decorated female Olympic track and field athlete with 11 medals, including seven gold.
The former Cromwell Field is now Allyson Felix Field.
Felix turned professional while in high school in 2003, then enrolled at USC later that year and graduated with a degree in elementary education in May 2008.
“When Allyson and I spoke about naming the field after her, she responded with the grace and humility she has shown throughout her life,” USC President Carol Folt said in a press release. “The Allyson Felix Field will recognize her immense achievements as a sports legend and Trojan — while also showing our admiration for her role as an entrepreneur, advocate and champion for women.”
While a USC student, Felix regularly worked out before dawn, went to class until mid-afternoon and then trained again until it was dark, then did homework. She had made a promise to her family that she would get a college degree and had plans to become a fifth-grade teacher after her track career.
Felix retired last year, 19 years after enrolling at USC, and is now founder and president of the footwear brand Saysh. She also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from USC and delivered the commencement speech for the Class of 2022.
“For me to be born and raised in Los Angeles and have such a history at USC, I am just completely humbled,” Felix said in the release. “It’s such a huge honor to be a part of history in the campus, and it’s such a special place for me.”
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Introducing 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝
Our track & field team will now compete on a field named after USC alum, 11-time Olympic medalist and activist @AllysonFelix! pic.twitter.com/Bkgt9pO6SH
— USC Track & Field / XC (@USC_Track_Field) January 18, 2023

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