Kim captures short program at worlds
Source: Agencies |
March 16, 2013, Saturday
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Print Edition
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SOUTH Korea's Kim Yu-na reminded everyone of what they'd been missing on Thursday, winning the short program in her first appearance at the World Figure Skating Championships in London, Ontario, since 2011.
Kim showed no signs of rust or nerves, performing with the same elegance and class that won her the Olympic gold in Vancouver - and pretty much every other title the two years before that. With a score of 69.97, she's more than three points ahead of defending world champion Carolina Kostner of Italy (66.86) and Kanako Murakami of Japan (66.64) going into today's free skate.
"When I first heard the score, I was a little bit surprised," Kim said. "My first thought was probably the spin wasn't good enough, maybe I got a downgrade for that. But that wasn't the case. Yes, I was a little surprised. But I know I tried my best so I have no regrets."
Nor should she. Only two other active skaters have scored higher in their entire careers than Kim did, one being longtime rival Mao Asada at last month's Four Continents (74.49).
Asada landed her trademark triple axel - judges gave it to her even though replays showed it clearly was two-footed. But she's in sixth, one spot behind US champion Ashley Wagner, after botching her jump combination and popping her triple loop into a single.
The young Russian skaters didn't deliver on their promise, with Adelina Sotnikova faltering on her jump combination and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva flopping to the ice after losing an edge on her flying spin. Gracie Gold is ninth, giving the Americans hope of regaining a third spot at next year's Sochi Olympics. Wagner and Gold need to finish with a combined placement of 13 or better.
Kim showed no signs of rust or nerves, performing with the same elegance and class that won her the Olympic gold in Vancouver - and pretty much every other title the two years before that. With a score of 69.97, she's more than three points ahead of defending world champion Carolina Kostner of Italy (66.86) and Kanako Murakami of Japan (66.64) going into today's free skate.
"When I first heard the score, I was a little bit surprised," Kim said. "My first thought was probably the spin wasn't good enough, maybe I got a downgrade for that. But that wasn't the case. Yes, I was a little surprised. But I know I tried my best so I have no regrets."
Nor should she. Only two other active skaters have scored higher in their entire careers than Kim did, one being longtime rival Mao Asada at last month's Four Continents (74.49).
Asada landed her trademark triple axel - judges gave it to her even though replays showed it clearly was two-footed. But she's in sixth, one spot behind US champion Ashley Wagner, after botching her jump combination and popping her triple loop into a single.
The young Russian skaters didn't deliver on their promise, with Adelina Sotnikova faltering on her jump combination and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva flopping to the ice after losing an edge on her flying spin. Gracie Gold is ninth, giving the Americans hope of regaining a third spot at next year's Sochi Olympics. Wagner and Gold need to finish with a combined placement of 13 or better.
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