ONE LAST LONG SKATE FOR ONE OF THE BEST

GANGNEUNG • Patrick Chan is one long skate from the end of a sterling, competitive career, and there is every chance he won’t be in the mix for Olympic medals one last time.

He is sixth, with 90.01 points. A rather distant sixth at that, after falling on another triple Axel in the short program. He’ l l skate his goodbyes in the final group on Saturday, one last twirl with the big dogs, but the math appears to leave him on the outside looking up.

Saturday’s podium battle should instead shape up as one for the quad squad — Japanese phenom Yuzuru Hanyu, Spain’s Javier Fernandez, China’s Boyang Jin and Japan’s Shoma Uno — who all soared over 100 points in the short and will twist themselves into human pretzels in the long for a medal of any colour.

But Chan, the perennial Canadian champ and threetime world title- holder, won’t be defined by that final skate, good or bad, or by Friday’s slightly flawed short program. The 27- yearold has made that defensive declaration loud and clear, repeatedly, all year long. He hasn’t changed his tune just because he’s at the Olympics.

In fact, he turned up the volume on Friday, folding in a derisive swipe at skating’s ridiculous obsession with f ancy clothes, and saving an even deeper cut for the brutal nature of his chosen sport, which he still loves deeply; how with one mistake, you’re no longer a champion.

“It’s a really harsh environment, so to counter that I just have to be like, you know what, it is what it is,” said Chan. “I have 40, 50 years to prove I’m better at something else. I think I’ve done quite well so far and tomorrow is another day to just prove that I am one of the best.”

One of, certainly. But the men’s event is now in the hands of 23- year- old Hanyu and his gang. There is no shame in that for Chan. He was a shining example of all that’s good about Canadian skaters and athletes in general. Intelligent, respectful, introspective, generous. He just didn’t quite reach the top of the podium at an Olympics. That shouldn’t be his legacy, and he certainly won’ t l ook at his career through such a cloudy lens.

So no, he wasn’t shattered by another failed Axel — his annoying, persistent, mindnumbing nemesis — but he was disappointed.

“Absolutely, but the long program is tomorrow so I have to pick up the pieces I have to work hard tomorrow in practice. Just revisit. Talk to my coaches. I’m experienced. I know what to do to be better.”

With just 90.01 points, he’d have to be significantly better than three of his fellow competitors to make the significant climb to the bronze medal. It’s too much to ask. But he will ask it of himself anyway, one more time.