European title holder Elizaveta Tuktamysheva recorded the third highest ladies short programme score in history Thursday as the 18-year-old took a commanding lead at the World Figure Skating Championships in Shanghai.
The Russian dazzled the crowd to the rousing music of Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero”, opening with a triple axel before dancing impeccably to move easily into first position in the tournament with a score of 77.62.
Tuktamysheva was the only contestant in Shanghai to attempt a triple axel in the short programme, and her score puts her behind Japan’s Mao Asada (78.66) and South Korean legend Kim Yu-Na (78.50) in the all-time rankings.
Asada, who has taken the season off, recorded her score at last season’s world championships.
Tuktamysheva punched the air with delight after her performance, and will go into Friday’s free skate final as the clear favourite.
Her triple axel makes her one of only a select few women athletes to attempt what is considered the most risky of jumps.
Tuktamysheva said she has been practising the jump since January, and believed that producing the move in competition would make her a better athlete.
“It was very difficult… but it is very important for us to reinvent ourselves and constantly make breakthroughs,” she said.
“Of course I am aware of the risks. There is a 50 percent chance I would fall. But still I think we need to take as many risks as the male athletes do so that in the future we can achieve more elements.”
Tuktamysheva, however, ruled out attempting another triple axel in the free skate, saying she would add other elements.
“Of course, I will be less energetic than at the beginning of the championships, but I still believe these new elements could bring me excellent scores,” she said.
The teen star also nailed a triple lutz and a triple toeloop-triple toeloop combination during an incredible performance which she concluded with a rapid combination spin which drew the crowd to their feet.
In second place was compatriot Elena Radionova with a score of 69.51. Radionova was edged by Tuktamysheva into the runners-up spot at both the European championships and the Grand Prix Final.
The Russian team was hoping for a clean sweep of the podium, after achieving that feat at the European championships, but Anna Pogorilaya fell as she attempted a triple loop and finished in ninth.
Japanese national champion Satako Miyahara finished in third place on 67.02. Behind her were compatriots Kanako Murakami and Rika Hongo, while China’s Li Zijun finished in sixth ahead of Americans Polina Edmunds and Gracie Gold.