SOUTH KOREA/JAPAN: South Koreans hail their first gold medal in Olympic figure skating, while Japan put off gold to 2014

Record ID: 464213

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA/JAPAN: South Koreans hail their first gold medal in Olympic figure skating, while Japan put off gold to 2014
  • Date: 27th February 2010
  • Summary: WOMAN IN CROWD PRAYING
  • Embargoed: 14th March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA6ZSFGWYW1VSIM7CNRCO2UT2W0
  • Story Text: South Korean skating fans hailed their figure skater queen Kim Yuna on Friday (February 26) when she was crowned as an Olympic champion with the world's best record.
    Kim produced a riveting women's free skate to obliterate the opposition and become the first South Korean to win an Olympic figure skating gold medal.
    South Korea's capital Seoul came to a standstill as they watched their idol skater Kim Yuna in the women's single figure skating competition.
    The Seoul Railway Station lobby was crowded with Kim's fans as they watched her performance on large television screens, praying, clapping or shedding tears of joy.
    "As a Korean, I am really proud of her. Kim Yuna looks pretty and she's great!" said 24-year-old Han Hee-jung.
    Others watched the competition on their mobile phones in the streets or potable televisions inside vehicles.
    "I really want to convey Kim Yuna 'thank you very much' and as a Korean, I'd like to say to her 'go for it!'" said 28-year-old Kim Seon-young.
    The 19-year-old, already hailed as Queen Yuna by her legion of admirers, had hollering fans rushing down the aisles to salute her after she was crowned Vancouver Games champion with a record combined total of 228.56. She won by a huge margin of 23.06 points.
    Japanese rival Mao Asada soared high into the air to become the only woman to land two triple Axels at the Pacific Coliseum on Thursday (February 25) but could not match the technical wizardry, artistry or poise of Yuna and settled for silver.
    In Tokyo the sparking battle between Kim and Mao fueled Japanese fans in front of an electronics show-window or a karaoke shop on Friday where crowds of after-lunch businessmen and women gathered to watched the competition amid slight rain.
    Although Japan's figure skate heroine Asada fell a little bit too short to overcome the gap from the short program where she was ranked in the second place with 4.27 point below rival Kim, fans gave big hands to Asada who presented almost flawless performance.
    "I feel the sting of the defeat. I wanted Mao to win the gold medal," a 36-year-old businessman Yoshino Iwamato told Reuters.
    Some fans were already looking forward to the next Olympic games hoping Mao would again show her best to the world fans.
    "I wish Mao wins the gold four years later," a 74-year-old housewife Izumi Seiko told Reuters.
    Canada's Joannie Rochette delivered a display full of grace, beauty and guts to win the bronze medal just four days after her mother's sudden death.
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