By Jay Yim
Would you want to be Kim Yu-na? When you consider she is arguably the most hyped figure skater since Katarina Witt, and carries the burden of being elevated to a status of mythical proportions in Korea, it can’t be easy. In yesterday’s short program, she was also waging war against a strong field of skaters, with her primary competitor being Japan’s Mao Asada, who executed a top notch performance just before Yu-na would take to the ice. There’s no doubt most of us would be trembling in our skates.
But as an intense competitor who thrives on enormous challenges, the Bucheon native wasn’t rattled. Despite suffering a rather rough tumble during her earlier practice, she managed to skate flawlessly in her James Bond-themed program, one which judges rewarded her with a score of 78.50 points—a world record.
I couldn’t stop thinking ‘this is the Olympics’ and I have to be perfect”, Kim told NBC’s Andrea Joyce after completing her performance, “I had very good (practices) this week and I was very confident.”
NBC Figure Skating commentator Scott Hamilton was impressed. “Everything she does is exactly what skating is all about,” said the 1984 Olympic gold medalist, who gushed about Kim’s spins, flexibility and speed while landing her triple jumps, along with her mesmerizing artistry and personality. “There is no weakness (in her skating ability).”
Of course, Kim still has to perform her free skate program on Thursday. But having accomplished what she did under such an intense media spotlight, things are looking good in her attempt to become the first Korean to earn the gold medal in Olympic figure skating.
Sandra Bezic, another NBC figure skating commentator, noted as strong as Kim was during the short program, she held back. “She still kept it somewhat tempered because it was the short program, and she knows her (most important) job is the free program.”
