Kim shatters yet another record; wins Olympic Gold

Yu-Na Kim of South Korea broke another world record in the Ladies Long Program, and combined with her Short Program score, became the first Korean skater to ever win Olympic Gold.

Japan’s Mao Asada also set a record for the first woman to ever land three triple Axels (Short and Long Program combined), and maintained second overall to win the silver.

Joannie Rochette of Canadian claimed the bronze, becoming the first Canadian lady to win an Olympic Medal since Elizabeth Manley took the silver in 1988 over 20 years ago.

Kim, 19, demolished her previous world record with a new score of 150.06 (78.30/71.76) after her performance to Gershwin’s Concerto in F. The World Champion could actually rank 16th in the Men’s Personal Best Free Skating score, beating personal best scores of the likes of Alban Preaubert (FRA), Samuel Contesti (ITA), and many more.

The three-time Grand Prix Final Champion earned multitudes of positive Grades of Execution (GOE) points for every single one…

Kim breaks another record; leads Ladies Short Program

South Korea’s Yu-Na Kim currently sits in first after the Short Program, followed by Mao Asada of Japan and Canada’s Joannie Rochette.

Kim broke another Short Program record after scoring a new personal best 78.50 (44.70/33.80) points for first place in her flawless “James Bond” routine.

The 19-year-old phenom nailed a triple Lutz-triple toeloop, a triple flip, and a double Axel, all of which received high positive Grades of Execution (GoE). She also received positive GoEs on all three level 4 spins as well as her level 4 spiral sequence.

“I felt comfortable and I was able to enjoy my Short Program today,” said the current World Champion. “Mao   skated perfectly. I was a little worried, but there was no pressure.”

Asada nailed a triple Axel-double toeloop and triple flip in her compelling routine to Waltz Masquerade. The Japanese Champion also produced a solid double Axel, as well three level 4 spins, placing second with a season’s   best score of 73.78 (41.50/32.28) points.

“I’m…

Virtue and Moir capture historic Olympic gold

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir made history when they became the first Canadians, as well as North American team, to capture the Olympic Gold in Ice   Dance.

USA’s Meryl Davis and Charlie   White  claimed the silver medal, while the  bronze went to Russia’s Oksana   Domnina and Maxim Shabalin.

Virtue and Moir gave a spellbinding performance to Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 which featured exquisite level 4 lifts. Their level 4 twizzles were impeccable, and team also earned high Grades of Execution (GoE) on both their level 3 circular and diagonal step sequences.

The Canadian Champions also produced an excellent level 4 combination dance spin, earning a new personal best score of 110.42 (53.10/57.32) for first place in the Free Dance (FD) and overall (221.57) to win the gold.

Canada’s only other Olympic Ice Dance medal dates back to 1988, when Tracy   Wilson and Robert McCall won bronze.

“It’s amazing,” said Moir. “It’s  the best feeling in the   world. We believed, we dreamed of this moment…

Virtue and Moir lead after Original Dance

Tessa Virtue Scott Moir of   Canada took the lead after the Original Dance (OD), while USA’s Meryl Davis and Charlie White also moved up one spot to second. Russia’s Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin, who led after the Compulsory  Dance (CD), dropped to third.

Virtue and Moir delivered a technically complicated, but passionate Spanish Flamenco which had the crowd on its feet as soon as it ended.

“It felt amazing,” said Virtue. “We   just stayed in the moment every step. We were actually quite relaxed. It wasn’t   until we were sitting there (after the program) that I realized  what had   happened.”

The Canadian Champions were smooth and confident throughout their routine, which featured level 4 twizzles and a spectacular curve lift. The team also garnered over 2 points in Grades of Execution (GoE) on their level 3 circular and midline steps. They placed first in the OD with a new personal best of    68.41 (32.90/35.51) points, placing first overall with a total…

Domnina and Shabalin take the lead in Ice Dance

Russia’s Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin took the lead in the Compulsory Dance, followed by Tessa Virtue and      Scott Moir of Canada and USA’s Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

The Tango Romantica was selected for the Compulsory Dance. The dance, which was invented by Ludmilla Pakhomova, Alexander Gorshkov and Elena Tchaikovskaya, was first performed in Moscow in 1974.

Domnina and Shabalin gave a commanding and expressive performance, showing excellent interpretation of the tango. The World Champions placed first with a new personal best of 43.76 (21.92/21.84).

“Of course we hoped to get high marks,” said Shabalin. “We did our best of   the season, but this is only the beginning .   We were working really hard in the past three weeks and we feel more confident   after the European Championships.”

Virtue and Moir are just over a point behind with a new personal best of 42.74 (21.40/21.34). The Canadian Champions displayed exquisite body lines and     showed great intensity in their dance.

“Tessa and…

Lysacek takes gold; Plushenko gets silver

USA’s Evan Lysacek edged out Russia’s defending Olympic Champion Evgeni Plushenko, becoming the   first U.S. man to win Olympic Gold since Brian Boitano in 1988. Daisuke Takahashi   claimed the bronze, the first Olympic medal in Men’s Figure Skating for Japan, while Stéphane Lambiel of Switzerland came in a close fourth.

Lysacek gave a solid performance which featured eight triple jumps, including two triple Axels, in his routine to Sheherazade. The U.S. silver medalist also produced three level 4 spins as well as good level 4 circular step sequence to earn a new personal best of 167.37 (84.57/82.80) for first place in the long. With a total score of 257.67, he edged our Plushenko by a mere 1.31 points to  win the gold.

“That’s my best free program this season,” said the 24-year-old . “To do   your best when it counts most. I tried not to get too excited after each jump. I probably knew it was my best skate ever. It…

Plushenko leads men after short program

Evgeni Plushenko of Russia currently sits in first place after the men’s Short Program, followed closely by USA’s Evan Lysacek and Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi. All three men are separated by less than half a point.

Plushenko gave a demanding performance to Concierto de Aranjuez routine, nailing all his opening jumps:  a  quadruple toeloop-triple toeloop combination, a triple Axel and a triple Lutz. The defending champion also earned  level 3 on both footwork sequences, as well as  level 4 on all three spins, for a score of 90.85 (51.10/39.75) points.

“Today I won the first part,” said the 26-year-old. “The big battle will come the day after tomorrow, and I will conserve my energy for this. The guys skated very well today. I am happy that we have such a great competition. This will give me even more adrenalin .”

Lysacek put out a compelling routine to Firebird which featured four solid triples: a triple Axel, a  triple Lutz-triple toeloop…

Shen and Zhao capture 2010 Olympic gold

In what turned out to be a nail-biting event, Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of China won the 2010 Olympic gold medal, while teammates Qing Pang and Jian Tong captured the silver. Germany’s Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy settled for the bronze.

Shen and Zhao opened their  emotional routine to Albinoni’s Adagio in G Minor with solid side-by-side triple toeloops and a double Axel-double Axel sequence. However, during a Axel Lasso lift, Shen slipped while in the in the air, sliding down her partner’s back for a safe return to the ice.

The two-time Olympic bronze medalists recovered to produce a triple twist, throw triple loop, and throw triple Salchow. Though the mistake on the lift cost the team a of couple points, they more than made up for it with the positive Grades of Execution (GoE) they earned for all other elements.

Shen (31) and Zhao (36) placed second in the long with 139.91 (67.51/72.40) points, but with total score of…