BARCELONA, Spain — Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje successfully defended their ice dance title at the Grand Prix Final on Saturday.
The Canadian couple from Waterloo, Ont., earned 109.91 points from a free dance to "On the Nature of Daylight" by Max Richter, and "Run" by Ludovico Einaudi.
"Today we skated with our hearts," Weaver said. "That was our goal, we were connected, and that is the best zone for us to be in."
Their winning total of 182.66 points left Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States runners-up with 177.55 for the second straight year in Barcelona.
Bates said they fell short again because they "changed about 50 per cent" of their free skate routine in the last month.
"We have never faced that challenge before," Bates said. "(But) it will push us to match the intensity of the music and help us grow as a couple."
Italians Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte were third with 176.37.
It was the sixth straight victory for Weaver and Poje on the circuit over the past two seasons.
"We felt great about the performance today," said Poje. ‘We improved upon our other Grand Prix showings this season. We didn’t perfect everything we wanted to, so there is still work to be done."
Later in the day, Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan broke two more of his own records to win his third consecutive Grand Prix Final title in brilliant fashion.
Another of Hanyu’s masterful free skates received a record 219.48 points, and a record total of 330.43 that shattered milestones he set last month at the NHK Trophy.
On Thursday, Hanyu bettered his own record for a short program he set in Nagano in November by scoring 110.95.
"I am feeling really good today, because everyone was supporting me," Hanyu said. "I owe my performance to the audience."
World champion Javier Fernandez, who trains and shares coach Brian Orser with Hanyu in Canada, was runner-up for a second straight year despite his personal best free skate of 201.43 points for a personal best total score of 292.95.
Japan’s Shoma Uno was third with 276.79. Three-time world champion Patrick Chan of Toronto climbed from sixth after the short program to fourth place. He had the third-best long program for 264.45 points.
"I was really scared and nervous," said Chan, who sat out last season. "I’ve had shaky practices this week. But my free program is very comfortable and once the music starts it’s almost like auto-pilot. It shows my training is going really well and I can rely on it."
Hanyu took the ice after Fernandez’s strong showing revved up the local Spanish supporters, but his routine to "Seimei" by Shigeru Umebayashi easily won over the entire crowd that burst into applause and hurled down bouquets and stuffed animals after his performance. He gave a victorious fist pump.
Fernandez bowed to Hanyu while waiting for the score that both knew would be more than enough for Hanyu to repeat as winner.
No skater had ever broken the 300-total points barrier before Hanyu earned 322.40 at the NHK Trophy.
Also, one year after winning the junior Grand Prix Final, 16-year-old Evgenia Medvedeva of Russia was crowned the senior women’s champion.
Skating on the same rink in Barcelona, this year’s junior world champion coasted through her routine to Rene Aubry’s "Allegro." She added to her leading short program with 147.96 points for a total score of 222.54.
"I didn’t really expect this result here, but I worked really hard for it," Medvedeva said through a translator. "I am very pleased with my first senior season."
Satoko Miyahara of Japan was second with 201.13, followed by another Russian 16-year-old, Elena Radionova, with 201.13.
Synchronized skating made its debut at the Grand Prix Final and world champions Nexxice from Burlington, Ont., won the bronze medal with 120.34 points. Team Paradise from Russia took the gold at 131.09 and Team Rockettes from Finland won silver at 127.66.