CHINESE figure skater Boyang Jin put his immense potential on full display Friday at the China Grand Prix with the highest-scoring element in the sport’s history.

    Ice Network confirmed the record-breaking performance, noting it came when the 18-year-old rising star combined a quad lutz with a triple toe loop during his first set of jumps. It received a 19.19 element score, beating the previous mark of 19.00 held by Kevin van der Perren of Belgium.

    However, the highlight-reel display wasn’t enough to earn Boyang first place in the competition. World champion Javier Fernandez took home the gold Saturday despite having a point deducted for a performance, which included a failed quad salchow and uncertain landings on two other occasions.

    The Spaniard’s 270.55 denied Jin from winning gold on his senior Grand Prix debut. The Chinese youngster instead had to settle for silver after scoring 261.23.

    “This is my first year graduating from the junior level,” Jin said. “I have a lot of aspects to work hard on and improve.”

    The bronze meanwhile went to Jin’s compatriot Han Yan whose personal season best of 230.33 helped him return to the podium two years after winning the gold here.

    On the women’s side, three-time world champion Mao Asada managed to earn a 197.48 score despite a faltering performance that saw two points deducted for a failed triple loop. The 25-year-old however did enough to keep compatriot Rika Hongo at bay, who scored 195.76 — her best of the season, to win the gold.

    This is Asada’s first Grand Prix win after a year out, but the scrappy nature of the victory had her feeling less than pleased.

    “I have won the gold but I don’t feel satisfied as a winner,” she said.

    The concern was in stark contrast to the reaction of the 19-year-old Hongo. “I don’t think too much about ranking,” she said. “I am very happy with the performance.”

    Russia’s Elena Radionova earned the bronze with a tally of 184.28.(SD-Agencies)