Figure skater Patrick Chan arrived back on Canadian soil last month dazed but “thrilled,” after snagging the men’s title at the 2011 World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow.
The competition marks the end of Chan’s season, in which he set new highs for his short program and won his gold medal by 22.57 points, well above the previous record margin.
Chan is the fourth Canadian to win the world men’s title after victories by Kurt Browning, Elvis Stojko and Jeffrey Buttle.
“I am so honoured to follow the footsteps of many great Canadian and world champions,” he said, “including those whom I admired as a young skater.”
Chan made his world championship debut in 2008, the same year Buttle took the gold medal. Now back in his hometown of Toronto, Chan says he is working with his choreographer, Lori Nichol, on next year’s program.
“I’m very excited to show it,” he said. “I have not performed to that type of music and program before.”