Three-time world champ Patrick Chan finishes fifth in free skate at World Team Trophy

TOKYO – Patrick Chan of Canada finished fifth in the free skate at the World Team Trophy on Friday, falling three times in a routine the three-time world champion called frustrating.

Chan, who was first after the short program on Thursday, started off well with a quad toeloop-triple toeloop combination but things went downhill after that. He fell on the triple axel, the triple-lutz-double toeloop and the double axel.

“It’s frustrating to end the season like this,” Chan said. “I don’t really have a choice for this competition and did it for the team. I had a good season with the world championships but it’s hard to travel all this way, my body is not happy competing at this time of year.”

Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi topped the free skate with 168.65 points while Canada’s Kevin Reynolds was second with 164.13. Max Aaron of the United States was third with 159.24.

Takahashi hit his opening quad and was good enough to lead despite mistakes on three combo jumps.

The United States moved into first place in the overall standings thanks to the win by Madison Chock and Evan Batse in the ice dance final. Canada was second while Japan was third heading into the final day of competition.

The World Team Trophy brings together selected skaters from the six countries that scored the highest combined points at major senior and junior competitions. For the first time a team event, which differs slightly to the World Team Trophy format, will be included in next year’s Sochi Winter Olympics.

The competition wraps up on Saturday with the pairs and women’s free programs.