Music: {allcanada} Chan wins 2nd straight gold

Saturday, March 31, 2012

{allcanada} Chan wins 2nd straight gold

NICE, France -- Canada's Patrick Chan is golden again.

The 21-year-old from Toronto claimed his second consecutive world figure skating title Saturday.

Chan scored 176.70 to win the free skate to "Concierto de Aranjuez," despite falling on his double Axel. He finished with 266.11 overall.

"It was the hardest competition so far in my career," said Chan. "On the double Axel, it was a combination of being a bit late to the music and it's a long program. I lost concentration a bit.

"It isn't me if I don't make a little mistake."

Chan, who hasn't lost a competition in more than a year, landed two quad jumps early in the program and looked poised to run away with the victory before his uncharacteristic fall on his takeoff on the Axel with about a minute to go in the program.

A good portion of the fans at the Palais des Expositions clearly didn't agree with the judging, booing and whistling as Chan's winning score was announced.

Daisuke Takahashi of Japan was second with a total of 259.66, while countryman Yuzura Hanyu was third with 251.06. Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., was 12th.

Chan, who won gold at last year's world championships in Moscow, is the first Canadian to win back-to-back world titles in any discipline since Elvis Stojko in 1994 and '95. He's the first skater to win consecutive men's titles since Switzerland's Stephane Lambiel (2005 and '06).

Reynolds' 12th-place finish guarantees three entries for Canada in men's singles at next year's world championships in London, Ont.

Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir captured their second world title earlier in the week.