Five Key Contenders For The Men's Skate Crown

The 2018 Olympic men's figure skating competition held over Friday and Saturday promises to be an epic encounter

Gangneung, South Korea, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Feb, 2018 ) :The 2018 Olympic men's figure skating competition held over Friday and Saturday promises to be an epic encounter. AFP Sport assesses the five leading contenders to take Pyeongchang gold at the Gangneung Ice Arena: - Yuzuru Hanyu - Prodigiously gifted and with an iron determination, the Japanese rink idol in normal circumstances would be odds-on favourite as he bids to become the first since American Dick Button in 1952 to land back-to-back Olympic titles.

With two world titles gained since Sochi 2014, the 23-year-old is one of the finest skaters ever, but a gnawing concern persists over whether the ankle injury that has sidelined him since November will compromise his shot at skating history.

The fact that he disclosed on Tuesday he still has not worked out the content of his programme does not exactly smack of an ideal preparation. But if anyone can overcome adversity it is this charismatic figure, who had to flee a crumbling ice rink when the devastating 2011 earthquake hit Japan.

He has achieved cult status since Sochi and vowed on his arrival in South Korea to "deliver "a dream performance" to reward his huge army of adoring fans. - Nathan Chen - If the reigning champ is compromised, an American teenager who goes by the name "Quad King" is waiting to pounce.

Chen has the raw firepower -- he was the first to conjure up five quads in a free skate routine -- coupled with artistry to trouble Hanyu. The Salt Lake City-born son of Chinese immigrants is regarded by many as the main pretender.

He defeated Hanyu last year, and has teased his fans by saying he could unleash his five-quad routine on the Gangneung Arena ice. "For the short programme, I'm still sticking with two quads. Long, probably between four to five, depending on how things go in practices," he said.

Chen was far from foot perfect in the team event, but that will have proved an invaluable learning curve at this his first Winter Games. - Patrick Chan - Silver medallist to Hanyu at Sochi, the popular Canadian, like Chen, also took tumbles in the team event.

The 27-year-old three-time world champion is a redoubtable fighter, useful given what lies ahead, and would cherish adding an Olympic title to his extensive collection of prizes. Of his imperfect team short programme, he shrugged: "This is a long two weeks and I am not going to look back too much, and it's a good opportunity to get the early jitters out." He arrived in South Korea with a record 10th national title in his luggage.

Whether he returns home with the individual Olympic title to add to his team gold depends on him rediscovering the level of skating that secured him his hat-trick of world titles. He took the unusual step of switching coaches three months before these Games.

- Shoma Uno - A Japanese skater may well win the title, but it may not be the one on everyone's mind. Superbly gifted, the 19-year-old Uno took silver behind Hanyu at the worlds in Helsinki in 2017 and posted the second best score of all time (319.84) last year.

His more celebrated countryman owns the record at 330.43. This could be the occasion for Uno to step out from under Hanyu's long shadow. He had Chen and Chan in his wake when topping the short programme in the team event.

- Javier Fernandez - Old school skate fans would dearly love Fernandez to finally claim the Olympic gold. His weapons are elegance and mastery of his craft, rather than swashbuckling, quad-heavy routines.

The Spaniard, Hanyu's training partner with coach Brian Orser, arrives in South Korea fresh from securing a remarkable sixth successive European title. The 26-year-old says this is his last Winter Games.

The two-time world champion narrowly missed out on a podium at Sochi four years ago. The Madrileno, who will have been keeping tabs on his beloved Real Madrid's 3-1 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, is aiming to become the first Spanish skater to win an Olympic medal.