YONHAP NEWS

(LEAD)(Winter Olympics) Kim Yu-na wins gold in women's figure skating with new world record

VANCOUVER, Feb. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korean figure skating world champion Kim Yu-na won the gold medal in women's figure skating on Thursday, in a dazzling performance earning her a world record 228.56 points at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Taking a 4 point lead over her archrival Mao Asada of Japan after Tuesday's short program, Kim received 150.06 points in the free skating event held at the Pacific Coliseum for a total of 228.56 points to bring her country its first gold medal in Olympic figure skating.

Asada took silver with a personal overall best of 205.50, while Canada's Joannie Rochette earned 202.64 to grab bronze.

   "I can hardly believe that I won the (gold) medal," said Kim. "I'm happy that I was able to show all I had prepared. I cannot believe that this kind of day actually came to me."

   Kim's fellow teammate Kwak Min-jung finished 13th with 155.53 points.

   Wearing a simple blue dress with a sparkling band around her neck, the 19-year-old skated to the Concerto in F by George Gershwin, starting her long program with a couple of perfectly executed jumps.

   She landed her trademark triple lutz-triple toe loop combination jump flawlessly before going on to nail the triple flip and double axel jumps.

   Her stellar performance in the 4-minute piece surpassed her own personal best and world record of 210.03 set in October last year.

   Kim broke into tears while atop the winner's podium, completing a clean sweep of both the short and long programs, later embracing her Canadian trainer Brian Orser, who cheered the young "skating queen" on during her performance.

   "I had always wondered what other skaters were feeling when they shed tears after performance," Kim said. "I cried for the first time in my life (after the performance) but I don't know why. I was just happy and felt that everything was over at last."

   "Frankly, I felt less pressure (for today's free skating event) than any other competition. I emptied my mind (before the competition) because it was none other than the Olympics," she said.

   brk@yna.co.kr
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