MOSCOW, May 1 (Reuters) - It took Japan's Miki Ando just four minutes to boost the spirits of her devastated nation after she unexpectedly glided to gold at the world figure skating championships.The Asian super power was forced to relinquish hosting rights of the event following the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami on March 11 which killed at least 13,000 people.
Ando, however, made sure Japan left its mark on the 2011 championships when she surged past early pace setter and Olympic champion Kim Yuna with a dynamic, if not perfect free skate, to win her second world title on Saturday.
"Maybe I was able to bring back a little smile to the people of Japan," said 23-year-old, who could have won her second title on home ice had the championships not been relocated from Tokyo to Moscow because of the disaster.
"I'm so happy to win this gold medal. I did it for myself and for Japan."
It was Japan's fourth women's gold in the last five years following Mao Asada's triumphs in 2008 and 2010.
Asada finished out of the medals in sixth place after stumbling on her trademark triple Axel and having a few other minor wobbles in her free programme.
Japan's Daisuke Takahashi, who became the first Asian to win the men's title when he triumphed at last year's worlds in Turin, also had a disappointing championships.
Takahashi's bid to retain his crown was derailed by a loose bolt in his boot that came out during his long programme.
Canada's Patrick Chan, who finished second at the two previous world championships, seized his chance and soared to his first global title by earning the highest-ever score.
Takahiko Kozuka won silver for his best result in a major competition, giving Japan another medal at these championships.
MEDAL DROUGHT
Russia was also hoping to strike gold on home ice and end a recent medal drought in a sport it had dominated for most of the past two decades.
With former world and Olympic champion Yevgeny Plushenko serving an indefinite ban from competition, the host country's hopes were pinned on 17-year-old Artur Gachinski.
The blond Muscovite, who bears a striking resemblance to Plushenko and is coached by his mentor Alexei Mishin, did not disappoint a near capacity crowd at the 14,000-strong Khodynka arena to take bronze on his world championships debut.
Ukraine-born Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov won silver for Russia in the pairs competition behind the German duo of Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy.
While Ando's victory was emotional, Meryl Davis and Charlie White became the first American couple to capture the world ice dancing crown.
The Michigan natives shocked Canada's world and Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir to claim their maiden global title and give the U.S. their first gold in ice dancing at a world championships since the competition began in 1952.
American siblings, 16-year-old Maia and 20-year-old Alex Shibutani, fourth after the short programme, won bronze on their world championships debut.
For the first time in a major championship, all three medal winners in ice dancing were coached by U.S.-based Russians Marina Zueva and Igor Shpilband.
With two podium places on the final day, U.S. skaters moved ahead of arch-rivals Russia at the top of the overall world championships table with 183 total medals to 182.
The Russians still lead with the most golds at 75.
Ando, however, made sure Japan left its mark on the 2011 championships when she surged past early pace setter and Olympic champion Kim Yuna with a dynamic, if not perfect free skate, to win her second world title on Saturday.
"Maybe I was able to bring back a little smile to the people of Japan," said 23-year-old, who could have won her second title on home ice had the championships not been relocated from Tokyo to Moscow because of the disaster.
"I'm so happy to win this gold medal. I did it for myself and for Japan."
It was Japan's fourth women's gold in the last five years following Mao Asada's triumphs in 2008 and 2010.
Asada finished out of the medals in sixth place after stumbling on her trademark triple Axel and having a few other minor wobbles in her free programme.
Japan's Daisuke Takahashi, who became the first Asian to win the men's title when he triumphed at last year's worlds in Turin, also had a disappointing championships.
Takahashi's bid to retain his crown was derailed by a loose bolt in his boot that came out during his long programme.
Canada's Patrick Chan, who finished second at the two previous world championships, seized his chance and soared to his first global title by earning the highest-ever score.
Takahiko Kozuka won silver for his best result in a major competition, giving Japan another medal at these championships.
MEDAL DROUGHT
Russia was also hoping to strike gold on home ice and end a recent medal drought in a sport it had dominated for most of the past two decades.
With former world and Olympic champion Yevgeny Plushenko serving an indefinite ban from competition, the host country's hopes were pinned on 17-year-old Artur Gachinski.
The blond Muscovite, who bears a striking resemblance to Plushenko and is coached by his mentor Alexei Mishin, did not disappoint a near capacity crowd at the 14,000-strong Khodynka arena to take bronze on his world championships debut.
Ukraine-born Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov won silver for Russia in the pairs competition behind the German duo of Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy.
While Ando's victory was emotional, Meryl Davis and Charlie White became the first American couple to capture the world ice dancing crown.
The Michigan natives shocked Canada's world and Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir to claim their maiden global title and give the U.S. their first gold in ice dancing at a world championships since the competition began in 1952.
American siblings, 16-year-old Maia and 20-year-old Alex Shibutani, fourth after the short programme, won bronze on their world championships debut.
For the first time in a major championship, all three medal winners in ice dancing were coached by U.S.-based Russians Marina Zueva and Igor Shpilband.
With two podium places on the final day, U.S. skaters moved ahead of arch-rivals Russia at the top of the overall world championships table with 183 total medals to 182.
The Russians still lead with the most golds at 75.
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