Nagasu races into lead as Olympic champion Kim falters

AMERICAN teenager Mirai Nagasu made the most of Olympic champion Kim Yu-Na's nightmare routine to jump to the top of the women's competition at the World Figure Skating Championships in Turin.

COMING OF AGE: 16-year old American Mirai Nagasu makes the most of her rivals' below-par performance to romp into the lead in the World Championships (Getty Images)

Competing in her first senior World Championships, the 16-year old wowed the judges with an elegant short program to beat her season's best by 6.64 and lead the way with 70.40.

The American was followed onto the ice by South Korea's defending champion Kim who is looking to bring the curtain down on an undefeated season, having set a world record in the both programs in Vancouver last month.

But the crash was monstrous as the 19-year old fell from her pedestal, under-rotating a triple flip before missing the entry in a spin and failing to recover her composure during the rest of her routine.

And Nagasu admitted she hadn't expected to be sitting top of the pile at the half way stage in Italy.

"I definitely wasn't expecting to be ahead of Kim," said Nagasu, who finished fourth on her Olympic debut last month.

"I think she was tired from the Olympics and I'm sure she'll be better tomorrow. But hopefully I can stay up there with everyone.

"Tomorrow I just have to take everything one step at a time, count my spins and time my jumps."

A seamless triple lutz triple toe loop rescued Kim's score to 60.30 but the South Korean has it all to do to maintain her unbeaten season from seventh.

And while the youngster appeared to be uncomfortable with her left skate, coach Brian Orser insisted his protege's performance was purely a lack of focus.

"It's difficult raising your level again after the Olympics but it's the same situation for everyone," said Orser.

"She prepared for this but it was just a big mistake on the lay back spin and downgrading on the flip. She's fussy about her laces and how tight they are but I think it was just a case of losing her focus.

"We are going to look forward to the biggest comeback ever in the long program now."

And Kim admitted she had problems adjusting to competition again after her record breaking performance in Vancouver.

"I was scared to compete again because the Olympics were my goal and a really big one," said the South Korean.

"So I wasn't sure I could fight for the World Championships but I got here a week ago and I'm ready to fight for a medal now in the long program.

"I wasn't expecting my short program to be that bad but I just want to forget about it now and get back to normal."

Olympic silver medallist Mao Asada also scored down on her Olympic performance, but is in second on 68.08 while Finland's Laura Lepisto is third on 64.30.

Meanwhile, Great Britain's Jenna McCorkell put her disastrous Winter Olympic debut behind her to score 52.12 in Turin.

The Northern Irish skater missed out on qualification for the long program in Vancouver last month after a sloppy short program but there were no such scares in Italy as she comfortably progressed in 15th.  

‘I am ecstatic with the way I skated today, my combination which let me down in Vancouver, was spot on and I had a really great skate," said McCorkell.