Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.
Judgment Day
By Kang Seung-woo
Yu-na's Gold Quest Starts Today
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Kim Yu-na has compiled an illustrious career since entering the senior stage in 2006, winning all existent events at least once ― the World Grand Prix Final, Four Continents Championships and, recently, the World Championships.
And now the 19-year-old South Korean will launch her bid to grab the final piece of the puzzle ― the Olympic title ― which will enable her to enter the pantheon of the greatest figure skaters of all time.
Kim, who drew the No. 23 position Monday, is scheduled to perform at 1 p.m. Wednesday (KST), and the free skating will take place two days later.
Along with Kim, the ice will include Canadian Joannie Rochette, the reigning world silver medalist; Japan's Miki Ando, the 2007 world champion; and U.S. champion Rachael Flatt.
But as always, Mao Asada of Japan, the only woman skater who can land a triple axel with consistency, is seen as the biggest challenge to favored Kim, who is expected to give her nation the first Olympic gold medal in the sport, in a second-to-none competition.
Kim and Asada practiced together for a time at the Pacific Coliseum on the eve of the short program, along with three other rivals in the same group.
The Japanese skater dazzled on the ice with a triple Axel-double toe loop combination, which drew glances from Kim's side, and Kim responded with a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination.
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"As for the triple axel, I have that once in the short and twice in the long program, and I've prepared those, practiced for those," Asada told the Associated Press (AP).
"I hope to challenge myself and (do) those."
Brian Orser, Kim's coach, admitted that he had glanced over at Asada, while she was skating.
"When you're on the same sheet of ice practicing, it's human to pay attention to what the others are doing as this was our first practice together," he was quoted as saying by Reuters Tuesday.
"We always prepare for everybody to do their best. If other athletes are on triple Axel-double toe, it's still worth less than a triple Lutz-triple toe. What we need to focus on is what Yu-na needs to do. What she does do, she does very, very well."
Asada, who will take to the ice one spot ahead of Kim, will perform to Masquerade, while Kim skate to a 007 James Bond Medley.
Since 2006, Kim has held a slight 6-5 edge over Asada and in their past five head-to-heads, the South Korean skater also leads 3-2.
The two losses came from the 2008 World Championships and 2008-09 World Grand Prix Final.
Along with her Japanese rival, Kim has to withstand excessively high pressure in the quadrennial event.
She is the most overwhelming favorite since Katarina Witt in 1988 and she is already seen as a foregone gold medalist among her country's supporters.
"She knows there's pressure and it's understandable," said Orser, a two-time Olympic silver medalist.
"She knows she has a huge fan base in South Korea and a growing one around the world. They adore her and want her to do well. She's been able to sort of acknowledge that."
"She loves skating and competing and she's doing it for the right reasons."