Kim leads with record score at Worlds

The 2007 ISU World Figure Skating Championships continued Friday with the Ladies Short Program.

The 45 skaters were divided into two groups and a draw was made according to the ISU World Standings.

The top 24 skaters from the short program will advance to the Free Program.

Yu-Na Kim of South Korea placed first with a new personal best of 71.95 points for her routine to Tango de Roxanne from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.

It should be noted that Kim’s score is currently the highest score for a ladies’ short program under the new judging system.

The 16-year-old interpreted the drama and passion of the tango with an intensity and maturity beyond her age, opening with a beautiful high triple flip-triple…

Ando wins gold in Tokyo

The 2007 ISU World Figure Skating Championships concluded Saturday with the Ladies Free Skate.

Following a decision of the 51st Ordinary Congress of the ISU in June 2006, no Qualifying Rounds were held. The top 24 skaters from the short program advanced to the Free Skate.

Miki Ando of Japan won her first World title, while teammate Mao Asada rose from fifth to capture the silver.

Yu-Na Kim of South Korea slipped from first to third overall to win the bronze.

The ISU has mandated that the winner of each event at a championship be interviewed in the Kiss & Cry for the audience in the arena…

Denkova and Staviski win second consecutive World title

The 2007 ISU World Figure Skating Championships continued Friday with the Free Dance.

The podium in the ice dance discipline mirrored that of last year’s.

Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski of Bulgaria won their second World title, while Canada’s Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon took the silver. USA’s Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto won the bronze.

Denkova (32) and Staviski (29) interpreted their program to “The Seven Deadly Sins” with riveting dramatic intensity that held the audience spellbound. Skating with speed and flow, the choreography highlighted their wonderful matching lines and soft knees as they performed to an ethereal arrangement of music by W. A. Mozart and selections from the modern Romeo and Juliet soundtrack, receiving a…

Denkova and Staviski move up after Original Dance

The 2007 ISU World Figure Skating Championships continued Thursday with the Original Dance (OD).

The OD for the 2006-07 season is the “Tango” in which couples can choose one to three tango rhythms. If two rhythms are used, one can be repeated. Vocals are permitted.

Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski of Bulgaria are currently first after the OD with 99.52 points, followed by Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon of Canada (99.50 points) and USA’s Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto (99.02 points).

Less than two points currently separate the couples that are first through fourth after the OD.

Holding nothing back, Denkova (32) and Staviski (29) showed a fast and exciting dance to Libertango by Piazzolla. Their opening…

Joubert takes gold in Tokyo

The 2007 ISU World Figure Skating Championships continued Thursday with the Men’s Free Skate.

Following a decision of the 51st Ordinary Congress of the ISU in June 2006, no Qualifying Rounds were held. The top 24 skaters from the short program advanced to the Free Skate.

Brian Joubert of France won his first world title, while Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi won the silver. The bronze went to last year’s world champion, Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland.

Takahashi who stood in third after the short, placed first in the long with 163.44 points, moving up to second overall with 237.95 points.

Takahashi performed a compelling program to Phantom of the…

Joubert tops personal best at Worlds

The second day of the 2007 ISU World Figure Skating Championships continued with the Men’s Short Program.

The 42 skaters were divided into two groups and a draw was made according to the ISU World Standings.

The top 24 skaters from the short program will advance to the Free Program.

Brian Joubert of France took the lead in the short program with a new personal best of 83.64 points.

Skating to the soundtrack of Die Another Day and wearing a costume that included a gun holster on his leg and ’007′ in sequins on his back, Joubert’s choreography mimicked the actions of James Bond. His entertaining program, which had the crowd clapping throughout, started with a beautiful quadruple toe loop-triple…

Shen and Zhao win third World title

The 2007 ISU World Figure Skating Championships continued Wednesday with the Pairs’ Free Skate after the Men’s Short Program.

Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China won their third World title at this event, while teammates Qing Pang and Jian Tong rose from third place after the short to capture the silver.

Germany’s Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, who were sixth in both 2005 and 2006, slipped from second to third place to settle for bronze.

Maria Petrova (29) and Alexei Tikhonov (35) of Russia withdrew from the event before the long program after Tikhonov injured his right leg (adductor) during practice. They were in 11th place after the short program.

Poland’s Dorota Siudek (31) and Mariusz Siudek (34)…

Shen and Zhao take lead at Worlds

The 2007 ISU World Figure Skating Championships continued Tuesday with the Pairs’ Short Program.

The anticipation in the arena was almost palpable with a hush falling over the crowd as China’s Xue Shen (28) and Hongbo Zhao (33) took their opening pose. Skating 21st of 22 teams and performing to Romanza by Bacarisse, they did not disappoint.

The audience sat entranced as the two-time Olympic bronze medalists moved from tender choreography into perfect perfect side-by-side triple toe loops, followed by a fabulous throw triple loop. Their spiral sequence started with a nested change of edge that flowed with the music and transitioned into a backward-outside death spiral entered by Shen leaning back under Zhao’s free leg. The side-by-side triple combination spin went a little out…