South Korea's Kim Yu-na fell two points behind Japan's Mao Asada at the Grand Prix Final in her native country Saturday, failing to capture her third straight title at the top international figure skating event, according to Yonhap News.
Kim fell after a triple salchow and came short of fully executing a triple lutz during her free skate performance, posting a total score of 186.35. World champion Asada earned 188.55 to capture gold while Italy's Carolina Kostner scored 168.01 to finish third.
Kim, who skated in front of an enthusiastic home crowd that packed the 2,600-seat arena in the city of Goyang outside Seoul, finished first in the short program a day earlier with a score of 65.94.
The 18-year-old Korean added 120.41 in the free skate Saturday, the second best among six contestants, but failed to edge Asada who earned three points more to claim her second Grand Prix Final title.
"I felt a bit short on stamina today after feeling symptoms of a cold that developed two days ago," Kim was quoted as saying after the competition.
"I'm nevertheless glad I got to win a medal in my country," said Kim, who missed last year's Four Continents championship in South Korea due to a hip injury.
A third consecutive Grand Prix Final title would have made Kim one of only two female figure skaters ever to achieve such a feat, along with Russia's Irina Slutskaya, who did it from 1999-2001.
Asada, also 18, fell after a jump coming out of a triple flip-triple loop combination, but gained extra points in her remaining jumps to score 123.17 in the free skate, about three points below her season best.
Both competitors received roaring applause from the crowd that tossed flowers and dolls onto the ice rink after their performances, while holding out banners to cheer for the two longtime rivals.
In the men's competition, Jeremy Abbott of the United States came back from a second-place finish a day earlier in the short program to upset Japan's Takahiko Kozuka in the free skate and win the title. Kozuka finished second, and American Johnny Weir came in third.