S. Korean mines gold for country
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Kim Yu-na couldn't catch her breath. Perfectly fitting after the figure skating champion left the fans, the competition, the entire Olympics gasping at her brilliance.
Her country practically demanded the gold medal and "Queen Yu-na" delivered royally.
With one of the best performances of all time, the South Korean soared to gold Thursday night with an astounding 228.56 points, shattering her previous world record by more than 18 points. It is South Korea's first medal at the Winter Olympics in a sport other than speedskating, and it's sure to set off wild celebrations from Seoul to Pyeongchang.
"Truly I still can't believe that I did what I wanted to do at the Olympics," Kim said. "I have been dreaming about this moment and can't believe that this is not a dream anymore."
Believe it. Nobody else even came close.
Not main rival Mao Asada of Japan, who finished 23.06 points behind despite landing two triple axels. Asada looked stone-faced when presented her silver medal, perhaps overwhelmed by the gap between her and Kim.
And not Joannie Rochette, whose courageous performance four days after her mother's death earned her the bronze — and everlasting admiration.
"I just went out there and did what my mother would have wanted me to do," Rochette said. "When I get all those messages, I realize how much people are inspired by this."
The Americans, meanwhile, are going home without at least one medal for only the second time since 1952. The other time? 1964, three years after a plane crash wiped out the entire U.S. team on its way to the world championships.
Mirai Nagasu, 16, was fourth after a strong free skate, and U.S. champion Rachael Flatt dropped down two spots to seventh.
That Kim was so magnificent while carrying such weighty expectations on her dainty shoulders is what makes her performance so memorable. Not since Katarina Witt in 1988 has a woman entered the games so heavily favored. And not since Witt — who praised Kim for her charisma and style after the free skate — has an Olympic champion soared so high above the competition.
Although three skaters followed Kim in the final group, Orser knew it was over when she completed her final, flawlessly traced spin. He gave a Rocky-like victory pump, shaking his clasped fists over each shoulder.
"What's so fantastic about Yu-na is it's not about the money," Orser said. "It's about the sport. It's about skating beautifully. It's about her responsibility to her country."
