Verner takes European figure skating title

The Czech Republic’s Tomáš Verner has won the European figure-skating title, becoming the first Czech to do so in 16 years. Verner, the silver medallist in 2007, beat two-time world champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, who finished second, and defending champion Brian Joubert, who finished third. Verner led after the short programme and finished the competition, held in Zagreb, Croatia, with a final score of 232.67 points. His winning routine was set to the theme of Oscar-winning epic “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.