Johnny Weir finished eighth, securing the U.S. Team three men’s spots at the 2008 World Championships. U.S. silver medalist Ryan Bradley finished 15th in his first Worlds appearance. Winning the title was France’s Brian Joubert, followed by Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi with the silver and Switzerland’s Stephane Lambiel with the bronze.

Lysacek competed his “Carmen” program for the final time Thursday night. He stood up on his quad and added a double toe, and went on to land seven more triples, although some were shaky, and two of his combinations included an extra turn between the jumps. Although disappointed with his skate, there was a good sense of perspective as he analyzed his Worlds outing.

“I’m proud of what I did, which was … to go out and try a quad in both programs, and that’s what I came for,” he said. “It’s hard sometimes to focus on that when you want to medal. But you know, I have two, and at some point I’m going to have to take that next step and say, ‘If I want to win, I have to do a quad in both programs and I have to dominate.’ That’s where I’m at. I’m not going to come here and do the same exact program I did a year ago and make no improvement whatsoever in a year. I think I gave it everything. I couldn’t give it anymore.”

Weir opened with a beautiful triple Axel-triple toe, but then his program unraveled and he hit only four more triples.

“Obviously today wasn’t a great performance, but I still fought through the whole thing,” Weir said. “I’m glad that I ended the season fighting. I didn’t give up at all, and that’s something I’m very proud of, and now I’m just excited to get home and take a little break and then get back to work for next season so I don’t have another season like this.”

Bradley moved up four spots to 15th with an improved performance. After he doubled the opening triple Axel, he went to plan B, rearranging his program to maximize his points. His free skate included seven triples, but he fell on a double Axel late in the program. His Worlds experience, although not exactly what he wanted, certainly whetted his appetite.

“The competition’s just intense,” he said. “There’re so many great guys. It’s a really good event. They’re all putting new stuff out. It’s a great direction (that) the sport’s headed, and I’m excited to be a part of it. It just makes me want to be even better the next time I come back so I’m up there with those top guys. I’m ready to do my best and put the quad out and take the steps I need to get up on that podium.”

The World Championships continue Friday with the free dance and ladies short program.

– U.S. Figure Skating –
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is comprised of approximately 1,450 member clubs and Basic Skills programs representing nearly 200,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States, including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.