'Queen Yu-na' dazzles on ice

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Kim Yu-na of South Korea won the women’s figure skating gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics on Thursday, delivering an elegant program in royal fashion.

Known at home as “Queen Yu-na,” Kim soared to a world-record 228.56 points and shattered her previous mark by more than 18 points. It will go down as one of the greatest performances in figure skating history, and is South Korea’s first medal at the Winter Olympics in a sport other than speedskating.

Kim has made a habit of spectacular performances, but even she was dazzled by this one. She said “Oh my god!” when she saw the monstrous score – a mark her top competitors can only dream of – and coach Brian Orser pumped both arms, shaking his clasped fists over each shoulder.

“I can’t believe this day has finally come for me,” Kim said.

Kim’s longtime rival, Mao Asada of Japan, won the silver medal, but it was no contest – even with Asada landing both of her triple axels, one in combination with a double toe loop.

Joannie Rochette, skating four days after the sudden death of her mother, Therese, won the bronze, giving Canada its first women’s medal since Liz Manley’s silver in Calgary in 1988.

Kim came in with almost incomprehensible pressure on her. Not only was the reigning world champion the most overwhelming favorite since Katarina Witt in 1988 – she’s lost just one competition over the last two seasons – she carried the weight of an entire nation on her slim shoulders.

She grinned as she hopped up to the top spot on the podium, tugging at the bottom of her dress. When the gold medal was put around her neck, she kissed both sides of it and held it up.

The most popular athlete in South Korea, Kim needs bodyguards whenever she returns home from her training base in Toronto. Anything she does creates a frenzy, and even a simple practice draws a rinkful of photographers.

Kim seemed to shrug it all off earlier this week, saying after the short program that it felt like any other competition. But it was clear Thursday that it meant much more.

There were simply no flaws in her performance, from her skating to her expressions to a lovely cobalt blue dress. While other skaters slow down as they approach their jumps to steady themselves, she hurtles into them at full speed, yet touches down with pillow-like softness.    (AP)