Asada crashes, Sotnikova rises

Adelina Sotnikova of Russia reacts after receiving her score after completing her performance in the women’s short program at the Iceberg Skating Palace, Thursday (KST). / AP-Yonhap

By Kim Young-jin

Live by the triple-axel, die by the triple axel.

The high-risk, high-reward jump has been the calling card for Japanese figure skater Asada Mao, considered the chief rival to Korea’s Kim Yu-na.

But she fell attempting a three-and-a-half revolution jump in the ladies’ short program, Thursday (KST), dashing her hopes in what she says will be her last Olympics.

While Kim’s dazzling performance catapulted her to the top of the leader board, Asada’s disappointing 16th-place finish put an end to what was an intriguing plotline between the rivals.

Also raising eyebrows was the second-place finish of Russia’s Adelina Sotnikova, who skated past her more-heralded countrywoman Yulia Lipnitskaya, into contention.

Asada’s tumble came toward the beginning of her program when she under-rotated the jump and fell to the ice. She had difficulty recovering, botching a triple flip and skipping a triple loop during a planned combination jump.

She looked stunned while receiving her score of 55.51 points, nearly 20 points behind Kim.

If it was the end of her competitive career, it was a prolific one: Asada won two world championships, in 2008 and 2010, was the Grand Prix champion this season and won the silver medal in Vancouver. She is a six-time Japanese champion.

Asada Mao of Japan tries to stand up after falling on a three-and-a-half revolution jump in the ladies’ short program competition at the Iceberg Skating Palace, Thursday (KST), dashing her hopes in what she says will be her last Olympics. / AP-Yonhap

The two skaters, both 23, have a lot in common, having captured the hearts of their respective countries, and carrying national expectations on their shoulders. Fittingly, both have indicated that this will be their last Olympics.

Sotnikova, 17, was a pleasant surprise for the host country, cleanly executing her jumps and impressing with her step sequences, earning a score of 74.64 points. Five-time European champ Carolina Kostner of Italy finished in third with 74.12 points, and will be a key figure to watch in the free skate.

Her score came despite a program that was slightly less difficult than Kim’s. Still her technical score outpaced that of the Korean, and she stayed with 0.3 of the leader in the subjective component score area.

Sotnikova’s performance came in light of an underwhelming fifth place finish for Lipnitskaya, who Russia win the inaugural team competition last week, and was touted as a possible rival to Kim.

Sotnikova, who won Russia’s national championship at age 12, is two years older than Lipnitskaya and is said to be more polished.

But Lipnitskaya’s two-footed her landing of a triple flip jump hurt her as she finished with a score of 65.23 points.

Kim selected to skate last among the 24 skaters during the free skate, which will take place at midnight Thursday.

Sotnikova will be the 21st skater with Kostner preceding her.