Buttle wins as Weir grabs first world medal

GOTEBORG, Sweden - Jeffrey Buttle now has a world title to go with his Olympic bronze medal.

The Canadian won the men's title at the World Figure Skating Championships on Saturday, holding off defending champion Brian Joubert and American Johnny Weir. When Buttle finished his program, he pounded the ice then clapped his hands, screaming, "Yeah!"

"It's always been a dream of mine to be the world champion," Buttle said. "I can't believe that I am."

Believe it, because the numbers don't lie.

Buttle finished with 245.17 points, well ahead of Joubert (231.22) and Weir (221.84). Daisuke Takahashi of Japan was fourth.

Joubert's finish was impressive, considering he was sixth after the short program. The Frenchman has had a tough season, missing most of the Grand Prix season because of a strength-sapping virus. But he was mesmerizing Saturday and showed he will be a force next year.

The bronze medal was Weir's first at a world championships, and the only one for the entire American team this week. It also means the United States will be able to send three men to next year's world championships, where results determine slots for the Vancouver Olympics.

Evan Lysacek of Naperville, the U.S. figure skating champion, did not compete at the event after an injury forced him to withdraw the week before the competition began. An MRI scan on Lysacek revealed a sprained rotator cuff and sprained ligaments in his left shoulder and arm.