Russia’s Tuktamysheva sweeps to victory at figure skating world championships

SHANGHAI – Russia’s Elizaveta Tuktamysheva wrapped up the most successful season of her young career by easily winning the women’s gold medal at the figure skating world championships on Saturday.

Tuktamysheva had a huge lead after landing a triple axel in the short program and extended it further in the free skate to score 210.36 points overall, more than 15 points ahead of silver medallist Satoko Miyahara of Japan.

Russia’s Elena Radionova had a shaky program to fall from second place after the short program to third overall.

The top Americans, Gracie Gold and Ashley Wagner, rebounded from disappointing performances in the short program to move up to fourth and fifth, respectively. They fell just short, however, of ending the nine-year drought of American women on the podium at the world championships.

Alaine Chartrand, of Prescott, Ont. was the top Canadian in the 24-skater field with a 12th place showing. Gabrielle Daleman, from New Market, Ont., finished in 20th place.