 Korean figure skating queen Kim Yu-na performs her short program in the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at the Megasport Arena in Moscow, Friday. Kim finished first with 65.91 points. She will perform her free skating today, looking to regain the title and her World No. 1 spot. |
By Yoon Chul
South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na, who ranked first in the ladies' short program with 65.91 points at the world championships in Moscow, will perform her free skating program tonight with the theme “Homage to Korea.”
After performing to music from the ballet "Giselle" at Megasport Arena, Kim took a slim 0.33-point lead over Miki Ando of Japan at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships. The champion will be determined on combined scores.
After a lengthy period away from the international stage, Kim returned to the ice with a brilliant performance at the championships, fulfilling the desire of her many fans.
Vancouver Olympic gold medalist Kim, who appeared as the final contestant among 30 skaters wearing a black costume, dazzled the arena.
Her archrival Mao Asada of Japan ― hoping to console the Japanese people still struggling in the aftermath of the massive earthquake and tsunami ― was far behind Kim finishing seventh with 58.66 points.
Instead, another Japanese star Miki Ando followed the Korean with 65.58 points.
Kim, who finished second in the last world championships and remained absent from international competitions for 13 months, stumbled in her first jump on landing but except for this performed gracefully to music from the ballet “Giselle.”
The 20-year-old world record holder proved to everyone that she still had her wonderful jumping skills as well as graceful footwork for two minutes and 50 seconds.
A flash step sequence impressed the audience as the highlight of short program, which she expertly finished with a spin.
In response to the positive anticipation regarding her free skating, Kim aims to assert her position as the World No. 1.
Though Kim didn’t compete for over a year she had sustained her lead since December in 2009 with a win in the Grand Prix Final.
But in April, the ISU announced that Carolina Kostner and Akiko Suzuki were first and second with 4,125 and 4,118 points respectively. Kim is now third with 4,024 points.
As the winner of the world championships can acquire 1,200 points, if Kim continues her ascendancy today she can reclaim the top spot.
The world ranking is calculated based on results of the last three years.
So far “Giselle,” has been used as a figure skating theme many times. But this beautiful, well-known music wasn’t identified with a specific figure skater, much as “Carmen” brings to mind the figure skating legend Katarina Witt.
Kim has been known as the “Bond girl.” The use of the James Bond theme song, while she performed the short program got her the highest score and allowed her to snatch gold in the Winter Games in 2010.
김연아 쇼트프로그램 1위... 아사다 마오 7위 추락
13개월 만에 국제대회에 복귀한 '피겨 여왕' 김연아(21)가 2011 국제빙상경기연맹(ISU) 세계선수권대회 쇼트프로그램에서 1위에 올라 2년 만의 정상 탈환을 눈앞에 뒀다.
김연아는 29일(현지시간) 오후 러시아 모스크바 메가스포르트 아레나에서 열린 여자 싱글 쇼트프로그램에서 기술점수(TES) 32.97점에 예술점수(PCS) 32.94점을 합쳐 65.91점으로 안도 미키(일본·65.58점)를 아슬아슬하게 제치고 1위로 올라섰다.
신예 크세니아 마카로바(러시아)가 61.62점으로 3위를 차지한 가운데 '동갑내기 맞수' 아사다 마오(21·일본)는 최근 부진에서 탈출하지 못하고 58.66점으로 7위에 머물렀다.
아쉽게도 한 차례 점프 실수를 저지른 탓에 압도적인 승리를 거두지는 못했지만, 기지를 발휘해 높은 점수를 받는 데 성공했다.
지난해 세계선수권대회 이후 경기에 나선 적이 없는 김연아는 13개월 만의 복귀 무대에서 경쟁자들을 모두 따돌리고 선두로 나서면서 2년 만의 금메달 전망을 밝혔다. (연합뉴스)
![[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/bcc387606cf7451c94f51a5978960c9f.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
