Kim spectacular
Record score in short program has her way ahead
LOS ANGELES – Kim Yu-na practically sprinted through the short program and away from a strong field Friday at the World Figure Skating Championships.
With coach Brian Orser mimicking her every move by the sideboards, the two-time Grand Prix champion from South Korea built an 8.2-point lead over Canada’s Joannie Rochette. Her 76.12 score was the best for a woman, and it had Orser doing his own sort of triple jump – three leaps in the air, arms held high – when she finished.
“I probably got a plus-3 on that,” Orser said. “I can’t help myself, I am so excited and so proud for her.”
The 18-year-old Kim, whose previous best was a 72.24, covered her mouth and screamed when her monstrous number was posted. She earned it with huge jumps, precise spins, flowing spirals, superior presence and surpassing artistry.
And she did it all at breakneck speed. Fast and elegant at the same time is a tough combination to beat.
“At a world championships, this stage brings out the best in the best,” Orser said. “Yu-na was competitive, she was on the attack, she was very fierce and she knew what her job was. At the same time, she shared it with the audience.
“It’s one of those moments in skating people will always remember.”
Defending champion Mao Asada of Japan was third heading into today’s free skate, and her countrywoman, 2007 world champion Miki Ando, was fourth. They have a long way to go to challenge Kim.
The Americans almost certainly have too far to go to secure three spots in the Vancouver Olympics field. They need a combination finish equaling 13 or lower, but Rachael Flatt came in seventh, and U.S. champion Alissa Czisny was 14th.
“It is ideal for us to get three spots back. We’ll see what happens,” Flatt said. “I think it’ll be a good challenge for us … so I’m ready to do a good long (program).”
Kim’s talent has really blossomed under Orser, the 1984 and ’88 Olympic silver medalist – he barely lost the Battle of the Brians to American Brian Boitano in 1988. He practically climbed on the ice with her during the short program, twisting and bending and leaping while almost exactly shadowing Kim’s every movement.
“He really knows what I feel in the competitions because there was Brian-Brian and I am doing that now,” said Kim, who has an intense rivalry with Asada.
“I’ve been doing clean programs in practice, so I felt like I was practicing on the ice. Every element in my performance was great.”
Rochette, 23, has been down this slippery slope before. She was second in the short program at the 2006 worlds in Calgary, sending Canadian hopes soaring for their first women’s world champ since 1973. Instead, Rochette plummeted to seventh.
Rochette’s long, graceful spirals earned her enough of a boost to get to second place.