The 19-year-old Japanese star Yuzuru Hanyu has become the youngest skater for 66 years to take gold in the men’s figure skating, despite falling twice in his final performance.

After becoming the first skater to surpass the 100-point mark in the short programme on Thursday, Hanyu went into the free skate on Friday in the top spot.

Hanyu made the rotation for the quad in the opening seconds, but slipped on the landing and lost his footing badly. After another fall on a triple flip, Hanyu finished crouched on the ice, his head bowed, certain he had lost the gold.

The judges awarded him 178.64 points – a good score, but one that left him vulnerable to three-time world champion Patrick Chan of Canada. But Chan, up next, fared worse, and made three errors. Hanyu’s combined score of 280.09 was enough give him the gold.

World silver medalist Denis Ten of Kazakhstan took the bronze. Hanyu is the first Asian to take Olympic gold in the men’s figure staking.

How Yuzuru Hanyu almost thew it away

Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan falls during his free skate in the men’s figure skating final. Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Hanyu had gone into the free skate with a record 101.45 from the short program on Friday. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

But Patrick Chan also faltered

Patrick Chan of Canada was next up. Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

But Chan also faltered, leaving Hanyu to take gold. Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

A gold performance, in spite of the falls

Hanyu spins through the air in a captivating routine. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Hanyu becomes the first Asian to take Olympic skating gold. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Hanyu glides to gold. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The skaters’ reaction

“I thought the gold medal was not in my hands,” Hanyu told reporters later. His routine over, Hanyu knelt on the ice, his hands spread out in front of him, contemplating a chance that appeared blown. “I was so nervous and I was so tired,” he said.

Asked if he thought he would win, Hanyu shook his head. “No, I was so sad.”

Chan was left to rue an opportunity lost. “I had that chance and it slipped out of my hands,” he said.

The podium shot