Rising star Hanyu inspires Takahashi to silver

Rising star Hanyu inspires Takahashi to silver

Daisuke Takahashi admitted that rapidly improving young teammate Yuzuru Hanyu had helped inspire him towards silver at the world figure skating championships.

Japan's Daisuke Takahashi (R) and Yuzuru Hanyu (L) pose on the podium at the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships in Nice. Takahashi admitted that rapidly improving young teammate Hanyu had helped inspire him towards silver at the world figure skating championships.

National champion Takahashi, 26, finished runner-up behind two-time winner Patrick Chan of Canada on the final day of competition on Saturday with 17-year-old Hanyu taking a surprise third.

It was the first time that Japan have had two skaters on the men's podium, and Takahashi, the first Japanese man to win an Olympic medal with bronze in Vancouver and a world title in 2010, said that he had not wanted to be overshadowed by Hanyu.

"I heard the crowd cheering and knew Yuzuru had been perfect. I said 'ok I have to do well. I can't let him beat me'," said Takahashi.

"It's like a race trying not to be left out. Yuzuru and the other skaters can still improve in the future.

"Practising with Yuzuru in this competition I really feel he's going to be a real strong rival."

Takahashi, who skated cleanly to the music "Blues for Klook" by Eddy Louis, finished second overall but was third in the free skate by a fractional 0.05 points behind Hanyu.

"He scored higher in the free programme, which frustrated me a bit," said the skater from Agamasaki, who paid tribute to the teenager's nerves.

"It's the first time to have two (Japanese) men on the podium, and especially to have a young skater on the podium.

"When I competed at the worlds for the first time I didn't think I would finish on the podium. I think it's amazing what he has done."

Takahashi, however, remains confident he can keep up with the youngsters.

"I'm the oldest man on the team and when I look to the future of Japanese figure skating I think it's very important to have these two medals," he said.

"I didn't expect to win the silver medal here, the long-time goal being Sochi (Winter Games), but I have improved so much.

"There's still two years to go to Sochi so I have to find out what I need to do. I'm very surprised that I've improved so much this season. I've proved to myself I can still improve."

Hanyu said he was surprised after he jumped from seventh after the short programme to take a medal on his world debut despite a tumble on a step sequence during his Romeo and Juliet free skate.

"I didn't expect to be on the podium at my first world championships. I watched world championships on the television in the past," he said.

"It was my dream to participate and to win a medal. Being here for the first time and to win a medal is amazing."

Competing has also been a battle for the skater from Sendai whose home and ice rink were damaged during the earthquake and tsunami catastrophe just over a year ago.

He trained in Yokohama before the ice rink reopened last July.

"It's been a really tough season for me, but winning a medal here I feel I've overcome the difficulties of the past season."

Japan's third skater Takahiko Kozuka, the 2011 silver medallist, finished off the podium this time in 11th position.

Champion Chan paid tribute to the Japanese skaters.

"Daisuke and I've competed quite a lot together. We're really good friends. Yuzuru is a new addition. Things shift, it's unfamiliar having two Japanese flags in between mine.

"I give him (Hanyu) the award for the most energetic skater. He got the crowd going better than any other skater other than Brian (Joubert of France). He's got better each competition this season."

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