Kim Yu-Na realised childhood dream with flawless Olympic skate

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Posted: Friday 26th February 2010 | 7:44

From James Toney, Sportsbeat, in Vancouver

KIM Yu-Na kept her cool to claim Olympic figure skating gold but half a world away Korea was losing its head.

GOLDEN GIRL: Korea's Kim Yu-Na kept her composure to chalk up an incredible world record points score and capture Olympic gold (Getty Images)

The 19-year-old produced a flawless free skate to match her perfect short program, securing gold with a world record points score that defied superlatives.

Kim becomes Korea's first ever figure skating gold medallist, sending her already soaring superstar profile into the stratosphere.

"I'm so happy I could do everything I did in my practice and especially happy with the score that I received," she said.

"For the first time I had a very clean performance in the short and long program and it means so much to me to be able to do this at the Olympics.

"I was not nervous at all, I was really confident.

"I still can't believe that I did what I wanted to at the Olympics, I've been dreaming about this moment and it's hard to realise it's not a dream anymore.

"Since I have accomplished the biggest and most important goal in my life, I want to enjoy it for a while, then I will think about what I want to do next."

World champion Kim - who normally keeps her cool - cried on the shoulder of coach Brian Orser after receiving her ground-breaking set of marks - a combined total of 228.56 and more than 18 points more than her previous best.

While a queue of skating legends, including double Olympic champion Katerina Witt, lined up to heap praise on her flawless routine.

"In the past I've seen many skaters cry after their performances. I don't know why I cried, I was so concerned how I might perform," added Kim.

"I'm very honoured that such kind comments are being made about my performance by famous skaters that I respect very much."

Mao Asada admitted she was disappointed with her silver medal performance despite landing two triple axels to match the one she nailed in the short program.

Kim didn't attempt the jump, but Asada refused to be drawn into the same debate that Evgeni Plushenko ignited, when he questioned Evan Lysacek's men's gold medal after the American shunned a quad jump.

"I made some mistakes and I have some regrets but I was happy that I was able to get a medal," said Asada, who took silver ahead of Canada's Joannie Rochette.

"I would like to be proud of the fact that I completed three successful triple axels and these Olympic Games, it's something I'm very proud of."