Skaters debate Buttle’s win without quadruple

GOTEBORG, Sweden – Jeffrey Buttle won the world title and set off a debate.

No, this isn’t skating’s latest controversial victory. Buttle was brilliant in adding the men’s title at the World Figure Skating Championships to the Olympic bronze medal he already owns, with a program that was the perfect blend of artistry and athleticism. His footwork was whimsical and his spins thrilling.

But he had no quadruple jump – while all the other top contenders at least tried.

Buttle’s gold disproves the notion that a man has to do a quad to win the big titles.

“I started skating because I watched Kurt Browning and Brian Orser and it was about the program. And the most memorable programs in skating, you remember the program and you don’t remember what elements they did,” said Buttle, the first Canadian since Elvis Stojko in 1997 to win the world title.

“I went out there and left everything on the ice. I had my heart on my sleeve.”

Now he has a gold medal around his neck.

Buttle’s score of 245.17 put him well ahead of defending champion Brian Joubert (231.22) and American Johnny Weir (221.84), who won his first world medal and kept the Americans from going home empty for the first time since 1994.

“That makes me feel incredible,” Weir said. “I feel great. I am happy to give the United States its only medal.”

Weir’s finish means the U.S. will send three men to next year’s all-important world championships, where results determine slots for the Vancouver Olympics.

The top two men had to finish with a combined placement of 13 or lower to preserve the three spots. Stephen Carriere was 10th in his first world championships. Jeremy Abbott, a late add after Evan Lysacek withdrew because of an injury last week, was 11th.

The debate over the weight of the quad has been going on since Browning landed the first four-revolution jump at the 1988 world championships – and won’t end here.

Some, like Joubert and U.S. champion Evan Lysacek, say the quad is an essential part of men’s skating. Joubert, who has done three quads in a program, complained to French television when he came off the ice that quads were undervalued in the current scoring system and their value should be raised.

“Right after the results, I was very disappointed,” Joubert said. “And I am still disappointed because Jeffrey did the perfect competition, he made no mistakes, but he didn’t try the quad jump.”