License to Thrill: Kim Yu-Na Sets Skating Record

South Korean routs strong field in women's short program
By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 24, 2010 5:23 AM CST
License to Thrill: Kim Yu-Na Sets Skating Record
Yu-Na Kim of Korea performs in the women's figure skating short program in the women's competition Tuesday Feb. 23, 2010 at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Robert Skinner)

No Bond girl ever did it better than Kim Yu-Na: Skating to a medley of 007 themes, the South Korean glided to a world-record 78.50 points in the figure skating short program last night. The biggest favorite for the figure skating gold since Katharina Witt in 1988—and the biggest celebrity in South Korea—Kim kept flawlessly cool under intense pressure, turning in a playfully sexy and sophisticated performance.

The evening also saw strong performances from Mao Asada of Japan, now in second place with 73.78 points, and an emotional Joannie Rochette of Canada, skating two days after the sudden death of her mother. And Kim is far from a shoo-in for South Korea's first figure skating gold: Longtime rival Asada is well within range to make up the difference at tomorrow night's long program.
(More Kim Yu-na stories.)

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