(Beijing) Roman Sadovsky lifted Canada to eighth place in the figure skating team event at the Beijing Olympics on Friday.
Updated yesterday at 11:27 p.m.
The 22-year-old Torontonian has had a bumpy schedule after learning he was to replace Keegan Messing for this team competition.
“I was told to just stay ready,” Sadovsky said. I’ve been working towards the Games all season. It’s a bit of an endurance test (the team event), but I came here ready for anything. »
Messing is still in Canada and hopes to test negative, which would allow him to fly to Beijing.
With no room for error in the short program, Sadovsky missed his quadruple salchow — a jump he says he usually lands with ease — and tallied 71.06 points.
“I would say it’s disappointing…I’m not used to making that kind of mistake,” said the Ontarian.
“The quadruple Salchow is a comfort zone for me. I managed it with great success during the season. A small mistake on impulse made the difference, but you have to pull yourself together immediately, and that’s what I did. »
The United States sits atop the standings after Nathan Chen amassed 111.71 points. Japan’s Shoma Uno (105.46) took second place and Russia’s Mark Kondratiuk (95.81) completed the top-3.
Ice dancing and the couples program are scheduled for later Friday.
A few hundred fans were scattered a seat away in a section of the Beijing Indoor Stadium. They politely clapped during the programs — shouting is not allowed due to COVID-19 security restrictions.
Sadovsky, the silver medalist behind Messing at the Canadian Trials, has not been told if his compatriot will arrive in time for Sunday’s free program. Countries are allowed to substitute skaters between the short program and the free skate.
Sadovsky, who is making his Olympic debut, however, said he was preparing as if he was going to skate.
The men’s competition begins Tuesday with the short program.
The ladies’ short program is also scheduled for Sunday. The medals will be awarded on Monday, after the ladies’ free programs, in ice dance and in pairs.
The team competition, which includes one entry per country in each of the four disciplines, was added to the Olympic program in 2014, in Sochi, where Canada won the silver medal.
The Canadian team led by Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won gold four years ago in PyeongChang.