Yu-Na Kim sets world record at Skate America
Last Updated: Saturday, November 14, 2009 | 10:29 PM ET
The Associated Press
Yu-Na Kim of South Korea finishes her routine in the short program during Skate America at Herb Brooks Arena on Saturday in Lake Placid, N.Y. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)Yu-Na Kim is one straight-shooting Bond girl.
The world champion from South Korea set a world record for a short program Saturday night at Skate America in Lake Placid, N.Y., breaking her own mark with 76.28 points. She capped the mesmerizing performance to a James Bond medley with a marksman's pose that would make Sean Connery or Daniel Craig proud.
"I'm trying to do a clean program every time," Kim said after blowing away the field, grabbing a 17.48-point lead over American Rachael Flatt. "It's not about the score. I don't want to think about the score."
She even admitted breaking the world mark was a surprise -- to her, if not to the adoring fans who began buzzing when she came out for warmups, erupted in cheers when she finished to a standing ovation, then pressed their faces against windows overlooking the interview area.
There were banners proclaiming "Queen Kim" and even ones portraying the 19-year-old sensation as a Simpsons character and as the Pink Panther. On this night, she did everything but carve 007 into the ice.
"She wants to go out and skate well, show everybody what you are," said coach Brian Orser, a two-time Olympic silver medallist for Canada. "I think she's just excited about these new programs. They are such a good fit for her; she wears them well."
If she keeps skating this way, she'll be wearing gold in Vancouver in February. Asked if she can be beaten, she opened her mouth wide and shrugged.
Flatt had a rare fall in her program, but still beat Julia Sebestyen of Hungary by 0.26 points. Flatt, who was fifth at worlds in Los Angeles in March, was asked about the intimidation factor in facing Kim.
"She's pretty incredible," Flatt said. "For me, she's incredibly inspiring and someone I look up to. I'm just inspired when we get on the ice and I think: `Cool, Yu-na is out here."
And, for now, out of reach.
There are no Canadians in the women's event at Skate America.
