On Sunday afternoon, Espoo's Metro Arena had transformed into a cauldron of contained emotions. The thermometers outside the complex registered five degrees below zero, but inside the stadium, the heat of the main lights and the energy of thousands of fans created a vibrant atmosphere. The moment of truth had arrived for the men's free skate. The strings of the competition were so taut that the slightest hesitation on Finland's soft ice would dictate the fate of the medals and the direct tickets to the Grand Prix Final in Tokyo. Being the fifth stop of the circuit, no one wanted to give away a single point before the final event in China.
