After performance, Jin eager for third Olympic appearance

Despite his season-best score of 179.45 points for free skate, China's Jin Boyang finished only ninth overall with 270.43 points.

Jin, China's top men's singles figure skater and 24 years old, performed well to Invocacion, with six good landings in his seven jumps, including a 3Axel-1Euler-3Scalchow and a 3Lutz-3toe following a quad toe-double toe combination at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Thursday. But a poor landing on his last jump - a triple flip - cost him a higher ranking.

"I've had my ups and downs over the past years. But here in China, on my home soil, I was able to show the world my best performance and that's the spirit of sportsmanship. It has really made me stronger," Jin said during a post-performance interview.

A two-time bronze medalist at world championships, Jin also finished fourth at Pyeongchang 2018, the best-ever result for Chinese men's singles at all Winter Games.

"Everyone performed really, really well in the men's single event in this Olympic Games. Of all the past Olympic Games, this is, for me, the best competition ever."

Two-time defending Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan failed to make the podium after falls on his quadruple axel attempt, while US world champion Nathan Chen claimed the men's singles title at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Thursday.

"Yuzuru chose to participate in his third Olympic Games at the age of 27. He aimed higher and tried to perform the quad axel. This is something extraordinary that no one can yet achieve."

"It shows the spirit of sportsmanship and the Olympic Games."

"I hope I can do the same. The results don't matter to me now," Jin said.