Papadakis, Cizeron shatter rhythm dance record at figure skating worlds

Olympic ice dance champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron shattered their own rhythm dance world record on Friday to take the lead over two American teams at the world championships in Montpellier, France.

"I think it was better than at the Games. We were a little bit more relaxed, so I think it appeared in our skating." said Cizeron, who along with Papadakis is a four-time world champ. "I think we're just getting better and better, which is good."

It's going to be difficult to get too much better.

"There was a little bit of pressure that we did have because of the audience," Papadakis said, "but at the same time, it was wonderful and was lifting us, too. It was very different, but definitely easier [than in Beijing]."

WATCH | Papadikas, Cizeron dominate at figure skating worlds:

In the women's free skate, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan built on her big lead following her short program to win the world title with plenty of room to spare. Her score of 236.09 points allowed her to breeze past Loena Hendrickx of Belgium, who had 217.70 points, while Alysa Liu vaulted over American teammate Mariah Bell to take bronze.

Liu, who was fifth after her short program, finished with 211.19 points. Bell was fourth with 208.66.

The world championships conclude Saturday with the free dance and the men's free skate, where Shoma Uno leads Yuma Kagiyama and Kazuki Tomono as they try to hold off American phenom Ilia Malinin and claim a Japanese sweep.

Hubbell and Donohue, the Olympic bronze medalists who train with Papadakis and Cizeron in Montreal, scored a career-best 89.72 points in the final competitive event of their long and decorated career. The longtime standard-bearers for America ice dancing announced prior to the season