Shoma Uno finally has the medal the Japanese figure skater has long coveted from the Grand Prix Final.
The reigning world champion, who had twice finished second and third at the finale of the Grand Prix season, held off countryman Sota Yamamoto on Saturday to capture gold. Uno followed his winning short program with the highest score in the free skate to finish with 304.46 points. Yamamoto scored 274.35 points to take second.
Ilia Malinin of the United States rebounded from a sloppy short program with a strong free skate to win bronze in Turin, Italy.
“I didn’t particularly feel pressure just because I won the world championship,” Uno said, “but at this competition, especially during the free program, all the other skaters did so amazing that it instead motivated me to enjoy it.”…