Medvedeva leads at worlds; Chen of Fremont is 5th
Evgenia Medvedeva closed in on a second world figure-skating title Wednesday by taking the lead in the short program, and Fremont teenager Karen Chen led the American contingent in fifth place in Helsinki.
Medvedeva, a 17-yearold Russian, skated flawlessly and scored 79.01 points, a result second only to the world-record score she posted at December’s Grand Prix finals. Medvedeva, who is unbeaten since November 2015, can become the first woman to win back-toback world titles since 2001 if she retains her lead in Friday’s free skate.
“I’ll try to show everything I can do in the free skate,” Medvedeva said.
Canadians trailed Medvedeva, with Kaetlyn Osmond second with 75.98 points and Gabrielle Daleman in third with 72.19. Last year’s bronze medalist, Anna Pogorilaya, had to settle for 71.52 points and fourth place. Chen, the 17-year-old U.S. national champion, led the American skaters, ahead of Ashley Wagner (seventh) and Mariah Bell (13th).