TURIN, Italy – Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi took the lead over Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland in the men’s short program at the figure skating Grand Prix Final in Italy on Friday.
Looking to become the first Japanese to win the Grand Prix Final men’s event, Takahashi scored 84.20 points to stand 0.40 ahead of Lambiel. Evan Lysacek placed third with 79.70 and fellow American Johnny Weir fourth with 74.80.
Takahashi, skating to a hip-hop version of Swan Lake, landed a clean triple-triple combination and triple axel without a quad.
“I’m pleased I got this many points without a quad, but at the same time, I’m not fully satisfied because my spins and steps got a bit sloppy,” the world silver medalist said.
“I want to finish high in the standings with a perfect quad in the free skate,” Takahashi said.
In the women’s short program, defending champion Kim Yu Na of South Korea earned 64.62 to take a 2.80-point lead over 14-year-old American Caroline Zhang. Italy’s Carolina Kostner scored 59.86 to place third.
Mao Asada skipped a jump and placed last in the field of six with 59.04.