I had a nice e-mail from a South Korean reader who suggested that the phonetic — or transliterated — spelling being used in English for his country's great figure skating star, Kim Yu-Na, was incorrect.
He said it should be Kim Yun-A or Kim Yeon-A because it is as much a pronunciation issue as a spelling issue, and there should not be a break after the "u'' sound.
I replied that the English-language media have taken the Yu-Na spelling from the way her name is listed by the International Skating Union.
But I figured it was time to do a little more research to make sure I respect Korean culture by getting it right, especially since I will be writing and saying this young woman's name frequently between now and the 2010 Olympics, where she will be a gold medal favorite based on her performances in winning the world title last week in Los Angeles.
First of all, I have chosen to write it with the family name (Kim) first because that is the Korean manner: family name, then given name. That also is the case in Chinese, but I eventually wrote the name of Chinese figure skating world champion Chen Lu as Lu Chen because she told U.S. media that was her preference for English usage.
I called the South Korean consulate in Chicago to check on the correct way to write Kim's given name, and this is what Lee Eun (who signed her e-mail Eun Lee) told me:
"According to her official website, the preferred spelling of her name is 'Yuna.' Your reader was correct in pointing out the subtle differences between 'Kim Yu-Na' and 'Kim Yun-A' (or 'Yeon-A') because her Korean name is pronounced 'Gim Yuhn Ah.' ''
(That pronunciation has a hard "G,'' like "gimmick,'' and a short "u,'' like "un.'')
"Having said that,'' Lee's e-mail continued, "Ms. Kim is a world-class athlete who is competing on an international level and may have made a conscious choice to make her name . . . easier for foreigners to understand and remember. The ISU lists her name as 'Yu-Na Kim' and so does NBC. I doubt it would have been written as such without the consent of her team.''
The same could apply to the order of the names, Lee said, suggesting it might be better to avoid confusion by putting the given name first.
So what would Ms. Lee's personal choice be for English use of her countrywoman's name?
"Yuna Kim.''
OK by me.
Now let's see if I can get everyone else to go along.
But, as Shakespeare might have said, a Yuna by another name, like Yu-Na or Yun-A, would skate as great.
— Philip Hersh
Source article: No matter how you write it, skating's Yuna Kim spells greatness
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Outstanding week for Canadian figure skaters
It was an outstanding week for the Canadian figure skating team at the world championships in Los Angeles. For the second year in a row, Canadian skaters claimed a medal in three of the four disciplines.
The story of the week had to be the unbelievable performances from eventual world women’s champion, Yu-Na Kim of Korea.
To start with, Kim posted the highest recorded score ever in the short with 76.12 after an exquisite program to Danse Macabre. She followed it up with another personal best in the free program and with a total overall score of 207.71, she broke the 200-point barrier for women.
The other big story was the quiet confidence and ability displayed by Canada’s Joannie Rochette. With her silver medal, Rochette became the first Canadian woman in 21 years to stand on the world medal podium. The 2008 world champion, Mao Asada of Japan, dropped from third in the short to fourth overall after being hampered by a free program to the repetitious strains of Waltz Masquerade, which didn’t do a lot to showcase her talent. Her teammate Miki Ando, the 2007 world champion, took the bronze.
The men’s free was a nail-biter.
Canada’s Patrick Chan was the first of the last group to skate and had to wait for the final five skaters before knowing the result.
Chan didn’t disappoint and with a very strong free program was able to move from third to take the silver medal France’s Brian Joubert, the 2007 world champion, had a less than stellar free program where he doubled two jumps and fell on his final double Axel, which dropped him from first to third overall. Evan Lysacek won the first title for an American man in 13 years in front of his home crowd and posted a personal best score of 159.53 in the free and 242.33 overall.
In ice dance, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Canadian champions and 2008 world silver medallists, captured the bronze. It was on the strength of the points they earned in their third-place finish in the compulsory dance that they were able to hold off the competition for the medal.
Americans Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto won the silver and were back on track after missing the Grand Prix Final and U.S. Nationals due to Agosto’s back injury. Gold went to Russia’s Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin whose power, presence and dramatic flair must have been the qualities to land them in the top spot because, in my opinion, timing, creativity and finesse did not.
In pairs, Canadian champions Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, the 2008 world bronze medalists, seemed tentative and finished in seventh place, the highest of the three Canadian teams.
Germany’s Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy were able to claim the world title for the second year in row with two very solid performances. China’s Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang looked stronger and more secure than they had all season in earning the silver, while Russia’s Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov’s elegant Swan short program set them up to take the bronze.
Based on world championship results, Canadian skaters secured two spots in each discipline for next year’s Olympic Games.
Canada also qualified as one of the top six nations at the worlds, which means they can send a team to the first-ever ISU World Team Trophy in mid-April in Tokyo. Two men, two women, one ice dance and one pair team from each of these six countries will go head to head.
Source article: Outstanding week for Canadian figure skaters
The story of the week had to be the unbelievable performances from eventual world women’s champion, Yu-Na Kim of Korea.
To start with, Kim posted the highest recorded score ever in the short with 76.12 after an exquisite program to Danse Macabre. She followed it up with another personal best in the free program and with a total overall score of 207.71, she broke the 200-point barrier for women.
The other big story was the quiet confidence and ability displayed by Canada’s Joannie Rochette. With her silver medal, Rochette became the first Canadian woman in 21 years to stand on the world medal podium. The 2008 world champion, Mao Asada of Japan, dropped from third in the short to fourth overall after being hampered by a free program to the repetitious strains of Waltz Masquerade, which didn’t do a lot to showcase her talent. Her teammate Miki Ando, the 2007 world champion, took the bronze.
The men’s free was a nail-biter.
Canada’s Patrick Chan was the first of the last group to skate and had to wait for the final five skaters before knowing the result.
Chan didn’t disappoint and with a very strong free program was able to move from third to take the silver medal France’s Brian Joubert, the 2007 world champion, had a less than stellar free program where he doubled two jumps and fell on his final double Axel, which dropped him from first to third overall. Evan Lysacek won the first title for an American man in 13 years in front of his home crowd and posted a personal best score of 159.53 in the free and 242.33 overall.
In ice dance, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Canadian champions and 2008 world silver medallists, captured the bronze. It was on the strength of the points they earned in their third-place finish in the compulsory dance that they were able to hold off the competition for the medal.
Americans Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto won the silver and were back on track after missing the Grand Prix Final and U.S. Nationals due to Agosto’s back injury. Gold went to Russia’s Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin whose power, presence and dramatic flair must have been the qualities to land them in the top spot because, in my opinion, timing, creativity and finesse did not.
In pairs, Canadian champions Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, the 2008 world bronze medalists, seemed tentative and finished in seventh place, the highest of the three Canadian teams.
Germany’s Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy were able to claim the world title for the second year in row with two very solid performances. China’s Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang looked stronger and more secure than they had all season in earning the silver, while Russia’s Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov’s elegant Swan short program set them up to take the bronze.
Based on world championship results, Canadian skaters secured two spots in each discipline for next year’s Olympic Games.
Canada also qualified as one of the top six nations at the worlds, which means they can send a team to the first-ever ISU World Team Trophy in mid-April in Tokyo. Two men, two women, one ice dance and one pair team from each of these six countries will go head to head.
Source article: Outstanding week for Canadian figure skaters
Koreans celebrate Kim Yu-na's skating victory
By Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press Writer
SEOUL, South Korea — All of South Korea seemed to be celebrating figure skater Kim Yu-na's historic weekend win at the world championships, with her victory at the top of newscasts and newspapers carrying photos of "Queen Yu-na" on their front pages Monday.
Kim, 18, is already a star in her native South Korea, with a slew of endorsements and TV commercials for everything from cosmetics and milk to air conditioners and laundry detergent.
Her performance at the World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles on Saturday night brought the world to attention as well, with her commanding, skillful and graceful free skate to "Sheherezade" bringing the audience to its feet.
"The whole world falls for her," the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper declared.
Nearly every newspaper and many online news portals featured large photos of Kim -- wrapped in the South Korean flag or wiping away tears during her country's anthem -- on their front pages. News of Kim's win got top billing on broadcasts over North Korea's plans to launch a rocket.
Source article: Koreans celebrate Kim Yu-na's skating victory
SEOUL, South Korea — All of South Korea seemed to be celebrating figure skater Kim Yu-na's historic weekend win at the world championships, with her victory at the top of newscasts and newspapers carrying photos of "Queen Yu-na" on their front pages Monday.
Kim, 18, is already a star in her native South Korea, with a slew of endorsements and TV commercials for everything from cosmetics and milk to air conditioners and laundry detergent.
Her performance at the World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles on Saturday night brought the world to attention as well, with her commanding, skillful and graceful free skate to "Sheherezade" bringing the audience to its feet.
"The whole world falls for her," the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper declared.
Nearly every newspaper and many online news portals featured large photos of Kim -- wrapped in the South Korean flag or wiping away tears during her country's anthem -- on their front pages. News of Kim's win got top billing on broadcasts over North Korea's plans to launch a rocket.
Source article: Koreans celebrate Kim Yu-na's skating victory
Monday, March 30, 2009
French figure skating champ tumbles
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — If they gave out marks for courage at the World Figure Skating Championships, French champion Candice Didier would probably take home the gold medal.
The 21-year-old from Strasbourg dusted herself off after a hard tumble into the end boards to complete her performance and post a respectable 71.92 free skate score on Friday at Staples Center arena.
"She gets painkillers now," French teamleader Eric Millot said. "She was almost fainting in the kiss and cry area because of the stress of the shock.
"But she said to us, 'Give me some water and sugar.' She wanted to finish her programme by all means."
Didier fell while attempting a triple toe-loop jump, landing hard on her right hip before slamming shoulder-first into the end boards.
She lay in a heap on the ice for several seconds before Staples Center security officials came on the ice to assist her.
Didier was taken off the ice to the kiss and cry area to meet with her coaches before she reappeared to a huge ovation. She completed her long programme and then clutched her stomach in pain before exiting the ice and going straight to the on-site medical clinic.
Doctors said she suffered a badly bruised hip but no major injuries.
Source: French figure skating champ tumbles
The 21-year-old from Strasbourg dusted herself off after a hard tumble into the end boards to complete her performance and post a respectable 71.92 free skate score on Friday at Staples Center arena.
"She gets painkillers now," French teamleader Eric Millot said. "She was almost fainting in the kiss and cry area because of the stress of the shock.
"But she said to us, 'Give me some water and sugar.' She wanted to finish her programme by all means."
Didier fell while attempting a triple toe-loop jump, landing hard on her right hip before slamming shoulder-first into the end boards.
She lay in a heap on the ice for several seconds before Staples Center security officials came on the ice to assist her.
Didier was taken off the ice to the kiss and cry area to meet with her coaches before she reappeared to a huge ovation. She completed her long programme and then clutched her stomach in pain before exiting the ice and going straight to the on-site medical clinic.
Doctors said she suffered a badly bruised hip but no major injuries.
Source: French figure skating champ tumbles
Underhill, Martini and Orser into World Figure Skating Hall of Fame
LOS ANGELES — Barbara Underhill, Paul Martini and Brian Orser were part of one of Canadian figure skating's most successful eras some two decades ago.
The three were honoured Saturday for their contributions to the sport when they were inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the world figure skating championships at the Staples Center.
Underhill and Martini captured gold for Canada in pairs 25 years ago in Ottawa, and went on to a successful pro career.
"Time goes too fast, man, it just goes way too fast," Martini said. "You don't realize how much has gone by until something like this comes along and slaps you hard in the face, and 25 years has gone by. It seems like yesterday."
The Canadian pairs team captured the country's first gold medal in 11 years when they won the 1984 world championships at the Civic Centre, and their long program is still considered one of the greatest moments in Canadian sports history.
"I was standing out there thinking, this is the end of a really great long run in skating and we couldn't have picked a better time," Underhill said. "Our timing was impeccable in terms of when we won worlds, when we turned professional and just the ride that we took."
Orser, the 1987 world champion and '88 Olympic silver medallist, received the Hall of Fame honour just hours before taking his spot along the boards to coach South Korean sensation Kim Yu-na.
"The timing for this is really good," Orser said.
"I'm believe I'm being honoured because of my skating contribution to the sport, but now that I'm coaching, do I get to go in again if I get great success? I don't know," Orser added laughing.
Kurt Browning was the last Canadian to go into the Hall, inducted in 2006.
The other 2009 inductees were Aja Zanova, a Czech who was the first world skating champion to defect from communist Europe; Willy Bietak, a skating choreographer from Austria; and Nikolai Panin-Kolomenkin of Russia, who won the 1908 Olympics.
Source: Underhill, Martini and Orser into World Figure Skating Hall of Fame
The three were honoured Saturday for their contributions to the sport when they were inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the world figure skating championships at the Staples Center.
Underhill and Martini captured gold for Canada in pairs 25 years ago in Ottawa, and went on to a successful pro career.
"Time goes too fast, man, it just goes way too fast," Martini said. "You don't realize how much has gone by until something like this comes along and slaps you hard in the face, and 25 years has gone by. It seems like yesterday."
The Canadian pairs team captured the country's first gold medal in 11 years when they won the 1984 world championships at the Civic Centre, and their long program is still considered one of the greatest moments in Canadian sports history.
"I was standing out there thinking, this is the end of a really great long run in skating and we couldn't have picked a better time," Underhill said. "Our timing was impeccable in terms of when we won worlds, when we turned professional and just the ride that we took."
Orser, the 1987 world champion and '88 Olympic silver medallist, received the Hall of Fame honour just hours before taking his spot along the boards to coach South Korean sensation Kim Yu-na.
"The timing for this is really good," Orser said.
"I'm believe I'm being honoured because of my skating contribution to the sport, but now that I'm coaching, do I get to go in again if I get great success? I don't know," Orser added laughing.
Kurt Browning was the last Canadian to go into the Hall, inducted in 2006.
The other 2009 inductees were Aja Zanova, a Czech who was the first world skating champion to defect from communist Europe; Willy Bietak, a skating choreographer from Austria; and Nikolai Panin-Kolomenkin of Russia, who won the 1908 Olympics.
Source: Underhill, Martini and Orser into World Figure Skating Hall of Fame
Canada's Joannie Rochette makes history, takes silver at world figure skating finals
LOS ANGELES - It was even better than she imagined.
“This was my little girl dream,” Joannie Rochette said. “I always dreamed to do it, but this year, I believed it.”
The 23-year-old from Ile Dupas, Que., skated off with the silver medal at the world figure skating championships Saturday — just the second Canadian woman in 36 years to stand on a world medals podium — and immediately afterward fell into an enormous hug from the first.
“Silver’s a great colour, you know,” beamed Liz Manley, who followed up her 1988 Olympic silver with the same finish at the subsequent worlds. Before that, Vancouver’s Karen Magnussen had been the last Canadian female medallist, in 1973.
“I know, I know!” Rochette said to Manley. “I’m following your program.”
In her seventh world championship, Rochette finally broke through with the skating week of her life. She had no chance to catch the runaway leader after the short program, Korea’s Yu-Na Kim, who was magnificent again Saturday to shatter the world record. No woman had ever cracked the 200-point barrier for combined points in the two programs, and Kim recorded a staggering 207.71 to win by more than 16 points.
“I don’t think about points, but I made a good performance here,” said Kim, who shook her head in disbelief when he marks came up. “I kind of thought I could win because I had a very high score in the short program — but a short program is just a short program. I knew I still had to skate very well in the long. But I think I did pretty good.”
You might say that. Kim’s tour de force, at the head of a field of exceptional women skaters, sets up a terrific scenario for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, and so does Rochette’s silver, which she won narrowly over 2007 world champion Miki Ando of Japan, with 2008 world champ Mao Asada well back in fourth place.
“This is the last world champioships before the Olympics,” said Kim, “so I really wanted to get this title. So I’m prety proud of that.”
Rochette made one major error, doubling a scheduled triple loop that was doomed by a slow entry, and stepping out of her second triple Lutz. She also had a little extra hop on the end of her opening Lutz-double toe-double loop combination, but the deductions were mostly minor and she fought through them to deliver a very attractive package that obviously resonated with the judges.
When her marks came up and she was ahead of Asada, who had landed a triple Axel and tried two, Rochette’s face was a mixture of joy and incredulity.
‘Yes, because I made those mistakes, and thought after the last one, I have to be perfect from now on, and I kept fighting and I’m really proud of that,” she said.
Ando followed with a terrific skate that had the first sellout crowd of the week at Staples Center on its feet and roaring its approval several times during the performance, but she came up less than a point short of Rochette’s total of 191.29.
The week was pretty much a disaster for Canada’s other skater, Cynthia Phaneuf.
The 21-year-old from Sorel, Que., whose career nosedived after a growth spurt following her precocious Canadian championship at age 16, finally made it back to the worlds after a three-year absence only to skate two badly flawed programs here and finish 15th.
She fell three times on attempted triple jumps, put a hand down on a fourth, and lost any attempt to create a mood with all the technical errors coming in the first half of the program.
“I was just a little bit slow today,” said Phaneuf, after a long, deep discussion with coaches Annie Barabe and David Pelletier. “I tried until the end, and didn’t give up. I don’t think anybody could try any harder than what I just did. I didn’t pop anything, I tried everything, went for it. I was just slow — I had no explosion [in the jumps], I don’t know why.
“It was better than the first world championship (she finished 20th in 2005), and I had a good week, it was just my two programs that wasn’t the best that I can do.”
Alas, the programs are the bottom line at a world championships.
The women on the podium aced theirs.
Source article: Canada's Joannie Rochette makes history, takes silver at world figure skating finals
“This was my little girl dream,” Joannie Rochette said. “I always dreamed to do it, but this year, I believed it.”
The 23-year-old from Ile Dupas, Que., skated off with the silver medal at the world figure skating championships Saturday — just the second Canadian woman in 36 years to stand on a world medals podium — and immediately afterward fell into an enormous hug from the first.
“Silver’s a great colour, you know,” beamed Liz Manley, who followed up her 1988 Olympic silver with the same finish at the subsequent worlds. Before that, Vancouver’s Karen Magnussen had been the last Canadian female medallist, in 1973.
“I know, I know!” Rochette said to Manley. “I’m following your program.”
In her seventh world championship, Rochette finally broke through with the skating week of her life. She had no chance to catch the runaway leader after the short program, Korea’s Yu-Na Kim, who was magnificent again Saturday to shatter the world record. No woman had ever cracked the 200-point barrier for combined points in the two programs, and Kim recorded a staggering 207.71 to win by more than 16 points.
“I don’t think about points, but I made a good performance here,” said Kim, who shook her head in disbelief when he marks came up. “I kind of thought I could win because I had a very high score in the short program — but a short program is just a short program. I knew I still had to skate very well in the long. But I think I did pretty good.”
You might say that. Kim’s tour de force, at the head of a field of exceptional women skaters, sets up a terrific scenario for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, and so does Rochette’s silver, which she won narrowly over 2007 world champion Miki Ando of Japan, with 2008 world champ Mao Asada well back in fourth place.
“This is the last world champioships before the Olympics,” said Kim, “so I really wanted to get this title. So I’m prety proud of that.”
Rochette made one major error, doubling a scheduled triple loop that was doomed by a slow entry, and stepping out of her second triple Lutz. She also had a little extra hop on the end of her opening Lutz-double toe-double loop combination, but the deductions were mostly minor and she fought through them to deliver a very attractive package that obviously resonated with the judges.
When her marks came up and she was ahead of Asada, who had landed a triple Axel and tried two, Rochette’s face was a mixture of joy and incredulity.
‘Yes, because I made those mistakes, and thought after the last one, I have to be perfect from now on, and I kept fighting and I’m really proud of that,” she said.
Ando followed with a terrific skate that had the first sellout crowd of the week at Staples Center on its feet and roaring its approval several times during the performance, but she came up less than a point short of Rochette’s total of 191.29.
The week was pretty much a disaster for Canada’s other skater, Cynthia Phaneuf.
The 21-year-old from Sorel, Que., whose career nosedived after a growth spurt following her precocious Canadian championship at age 16, finally made it back to the worlds after a three-year absence only to skate two badly flawed programs here and finish 15th.
She fell three times on attempted triple jumps, put a hand down on a fourth, and lost any attempt to create a mood with all the technical errors coming in the first half of the program.
“I was just a little bit slow today,” said Phaneuf, after a long, deep discussion with coaches Annie Barabe and David Pelletier. “I tried until the end, and didn’t give up. I don’t think anybody could try any harder than what I just did. I didn’t pop anything, I tried everything, went for it. I was just slow — I had no explosion [in the jumps], I don’t know why.
“It was better than the first world championship (she finished 20th in 2005), and I had a good week, it was just my two programs that wasn’t the best that I can do.”
Alas, the programs are the bottom line at a world championships.
The women on the podium aced theirs.
Source article: Canada's Joannie Rochette makes history, takes silver at world figure skating finals
Sochi 2014 Honors New Athlete Ambassadors after ISU World Figure Skating Championships Successes
29 March 2009, Los Angeles, USA: Fresh from their medal-winning performances at the ISU (International Skating Union) World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles, USA, two elite Russian athletes were honored by Sochi 2014 President and CEO, Dmitry Chernyshenko, as ambassadors for Russia's first ever Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Pairs gold medalists Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin were presented with special Sochi 2014 certificates immediately after wowing audiences at the competition's renowned Staples Center venue.
Epitomizing Russia's passion for Winter Sports, Mr. Chernyshenko arrived for the presentation directly from SportAccord in Denver, Colorado, where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressed satisfaction with the progress made in its Games preparations. The visit gave Sochi 2014 further insights into staging world-class competition, while also providing opportunities to revel in the memorable performances of competitors from Russia and across the globe.
Sochi 2014 President and CEO, Dmitry Chernyshenko, said:
"The support of Russia's athletes for Sochi 2014 continues to be overwhelming. I am delighted to present special awards to these inspirational Russian skaters, and to announce them as new Sochi 2014 ambassadors. Their successes have come through the dedication with which we are building towards an Olympic and Paralympic Games that will live long in the memory and provide an incredible sporting legacy for Russia and the entire Olympic Movement."
Oksana Domnina, ice dancing gold medalist and 2014 ambassador, said:
"To win a medal at my sport's World Championships and then be honored as an ambassador for my nation's first ever Winter Games has made this a day I will always remember."
"We are honored by this and are so excited for Sochi 2014," added Domnina's partner, Maxim Shabalin, ice dancing gold medalist and Sochi 2014 ambassador.
Dmitry Chernyshenko added:
"Experiencing top class Winter Sports such as the ISU World Figure Skating Championships continues to inspire Sochi 2014. We are intent on absorbing the expertise of the global sporting community wherever possible, and this visit has therefore been of immense benefit coming off the back of our latest positive feedback from the IOC at SportAccord."
The most prestigious of the ISU's championships, the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships are taking place between 22 and 29 March. Skaters compete in the categories of men's singles, ladies' singles, pairs, and ice dancing.
As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.
These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.
Source Article: Sochi 2014 Honors New Athlete Ambassadors...
Epitomizing Russia's passion for Winter Sports, Mr. Chernyshenko arrived for the presentation directly from SportAccord in Denver, Colorado, where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressed satisfaction with the progress made in its Games preparations. The visit gave Sochi 2014 further insights into staging world-class competition, while also providing opportunities to revel in the memorable performances of competitors from Russia and across the globe.
Sochi 2014 President and CEO, Dmitry Chernyshenko, said:
"The support of Russia's athletes for Sochi 2014 continues to be overwhelming. I am delighted to present special awards to these inspirational Russian skaters, and to announce them as new Sochi 2014 ambassadors. Their successes have come through the dedication with which we are building towards an Olympic and Paralympic Games that will live long in the memory and provide an incredible sporting legacy for Russia and the entire Olympic Movement."
Oksana Domnina, ice dancing gold medalist and 2014 ambassador, said:
"To win a medal at my sport's World Championships and then be honored as an ambassador for my nation's first ever Winter Games has made this a day I will always remember."
"We are honored by this and are so excited for Sochi 2014," added Domnina's partner, Maxim Shabalin, ice dancing gold medalist and Sochi 2014 ambassador.
Dmitry Chernyshenko added:
"Experiencing top class Winter Sports such as the ISU World Figure Skating Championships continues to inspire Sochi 2014. We are intent on absorbing the expertise of the global sporting community wherever possible, and this visit has therefore been of immense benefit coming off the back of our latest positive feedback from the IOC at SportAccord."
The most prestigious of the ISU's championships, the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships are taking place between 22 and 29 March. Skaters compete in the categories of men's singles, ladies' singles, pairs, and ice dancing.
As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.
These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.
Source Article: Sochi 2014 Honors New Athlete Ambassadors...
Kim Yu-na Wins Korea’s 1st Figure Skating World Title
When Korea’s national anthem began playing, figure skating star Kim Yu-na burst into tears, which glittered like jewels.
“Queen Yu-na” won the women`s title at the World Figure Skating Championships held at Staples Center in Los Angeles yesterday, the first by a Korean skater.
After taking a huge lead in the short program Saturday, Kim earned 131.59 points in the free skate yesterday, winning the title with 207.71 points. She is the first to top 200 points in the women`s event.
Kim had shattered her own world mark with a score of 76.12 points in the short program.
Showing spectacular jumps and spins as well as a superb facial performance, she overwhelmed her competitors and enthralled the audience. “I was confident of winning. I wasn`t nervous,” she said.
Except for a botched triple salchow that cost her 0.4 points, she was perfect in her program.
Both the audience and judges seemed fascinated by her dazzling performance. When her scores were announced, the audience gave Kim a standing ovation.
Kim finally won the championship after finishing third in the previous two years.
Joannie Rochette of Canada won second with 191.29 points and Miki Ando of Japan third with 190.38. Mao Asada of Japan, Kim’s longtime rival, finished fourth with 188.09.
Another Korean female skater, Kim Na-young, finished 17th, up two notches from the previous championship.
Source: Kim Yu-na Wins Korea’s 1st Figure Skating World Title
“Queen Yu-na” won the women`s title at the World Figure Skating Championships held at Staples Center in Los Angeles yesterday, the first by a Korean skater.
After taking a huge lead in the short program Saturday, Kim earned 131.59 points in the free skate yesterday, winning the title with 207.71 points. She is the first to top 200 points in the women`s event.
Kim had shattered her own world mark with a score of 76.12 points in the short program.
Showing spectacular jumps and spins as well as a superb facial performance, she overwhelmed her competitors and enthralled the audience. “I was confident of winning. I wasn`t nervous,” she said.
Except for a botched triple salchow that cost her 0.4 points, she was perfect in her program.
Both the audience and judges seemed fascinated by her dazzling performance. When her scores were announced, the audience gave Kim a standing ovation.
Kim finally won the championship after finishing third in the previous two years.
Joannie Rochette of Canada won second with 191.29 points and Miki Ando of Japan third with 190.38. Mao Asada of Japan, Kim’s longtime rival, finished fourth with 188.09.
Another Korean female skater, Kim Na-young, finished 17th, up two notches from the previous championship.
Source: Kim Yu-na Wins Korea’s 1st Figure Skating World Title
Russians edge Americans for ice dance title
By Nancy Armour
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin don't mess around. Their first medal at the world championships, and they Russians make it a gold.
Domnina and Shabalin's powerful yet composed free dance was just enough to hold off training mates Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, giving the Russians the ice dance title at the World Figure Skating Championships on Friday night. Domnina and Shabalin finished with 206.30 points, 1.22 ahead of the Americans.
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada won the bronze medal. Barely. They edged Meryl Davis and Charlie White by a mere 0.04 — a margin usually seen in swimming, not figure skating.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Move over, Kobe. A new world champion just rocked your house.
Feeding off the energy of the crowd in his adopted hometown, Evan Lysacek won the title at the World Figure Skating Championships on Thursday night, the first by an American man in 13 years. And he did it with the passion and flair the folks at the Staples Center usually see from Bryant, pounding his fists like he was banging on a drum before he'd even finished his final spin.
"This whole event, I knew it was going to be special because I always loved skating in this building. It's such an electric building and the people of L.A. have been so supportive. I just wanted to do well for them tonight," he said. "To get out there and perform the way that I imagined it hundreds of times and visualized in my head, I couldn't have asked for anything more.
"I'll never forget this incredibly special experience."
Neither will anyone who saw him skate.
Lysacek was devastated by the tentative, restrained performance that cost him a third straight title at the U.S. championships, and a week spent with choreographer Lori Nichol earlier this month reminded him to let loose and skate with abandon and joy. He set the tone for his "Rhapsody in Blue" program with his very first element, a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination he landed with confidence and security. He did eight triples in all, including a triple flip as part of a three-jump combination.
But it was his showmanship that won over the crowd — and the judges.
While other skaters look like they're checking things off element by element, he flowed from one trick to the next. His spins were quick and so perfectly centered he could have drilled a hole through the ice, and his footwork was wonderfully expressive, matching the lightness and playfulness of the music.
The audience was caught up in his emotion, a roar of applause rising as he danced across the ice in his footwork that led into that final spin.
"Well, tonight I wasn't thinking about winning, I wasn't even thinking about medaling," Lysacek said. "I just wanted to skate well for my hometown crowd of L.A."
Making it even more impressive: He did it with a bum foot.
Lysacek had downplayed the injury all week, but finally admitted afterward he has a stress fracture in his left foot. It kept him from doing a quadruple jump, and had limited the number of toe loops and salchows he could do leading up to the event. Eventually, he'll have to get it treated.
"It sounds so bad but it's really not that bad," he said.
When you're a world champion, all is good.
"We were not really expecting this," longtime coach Frank Carroll said. "It really was our desire to just come here and skate clean."
Brian Joubert had bigger goals in mind and, had he skated cleanly, the 2007 world champion would have another gold medal.
Read the full article here: Russians edge Americans for ice dance title
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin don't mess around. Their first medal at the world championships, and they Russians make it a gold.
Domnina and Shabalin's powerful yet composed free dance was just enough to hold off training mates Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, giving the Russians the ice dance title at the World Figure Skating Championships on Friday night. Domnina and Shabalin finished with 206.30 points, 1.22 ahead of the Americans.
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada won the bronze medal. Barely. They edged Meryl Davis and Charlie White by a mere 0.04 — a margin usually seen in swimming, not figure skating.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Move over, Kobe. A new world champion just rocked your house.
Feeding off the energy of the crowd in his adopted hometown, Evan Lysacek won the title at the World Figure Skating Championships on Thursday night, the first by an American man in 13 years. And he did it with the passion and flair the folks at the Staples Center usually see from Bryant, pounding his fists like he was banging on a drum before he'd even finished his final spin.
"This whole event, I knew it was going to be special because I always loved skating in this building. It's such an electric building and the people of L.A. have been so supportive. I just wanted to do well for them tonight," he said. "To get out there and perform the way that I imagined it hundreds of times and visualized in my head, I couldn't have asked for anything more.
"I'll never forget this incredibly special experience."
Neither will anyone who saw him skate.
Lysacek was devastated by the tentative, restrained performance that cost him a third straight title at the U.S. championships, and a week spent with choreographer Lori Nichol earlier this month reminded him to let loose and skate with abandon and joy. He set the tone for his "Rhapsody in Blue" program with his very first element, a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination he landed with confidence and security. He did eight triples in all, including a triple flip as part of a three-jump combination.
But it was his showmanship that won over the crowd — and the judges.
While other skaters look like they're checking things off element by element, he flowed from one trick to the next. His spins were quick and so perfectly centered he could have drilled a hole through the ice, and his footwork was wonderfully expressive, matching the lightness and playfulness of the music.
The audience was caught up in his emotion, a roar of applause rising as he danced across the ice in his footwork that led into that final spin.
"Well, tonight I wasn't thinking about winning, I wasn't even thinking about medaling," Lysacek said. "I just wanted to skate well for my hometown crowd of L.A."
Making it even more impressive: He did it with a bum foot.
Lysacek had downplayed the injury all week, but finally admitted afterward he has a stress fracture in his left foot. It kept him from doing a quadruple jump, and had limited the number of toe loops and salchows he could do leading up to the event. Eventually, he'll have to get it treated.
"It sounds so bad but it's really not that bad," he said.
When you're a world champion, all is good.
"We were not really expecting this," longtime coach Frank Carroll said. "It really was our desire to just come here and skate clean."
Brian Joubert had bigger goals in mind and, had he skated cleanly, the 2007 world champion would have another gold medal.
Read the full article here: Russians edge Americans for ice dance title
American Evan Lysacek wins gold medal at figure skating championships
By Linda Robertson
LOS ANGELES — Evan Lysacek couldn’t contain his excitement. In the closing seconds of an error-free long program, as he spun faster and faster in front of the judges and his hometown fans, he pumped his fists.
The gesture wasn’t part of his planned choreography but it reflected his feelings. Lysacek, so often an also-ran on the international stage, won the gold medal at the World Figure Skating Championships on Thursday night at Staples Center.
Lysacek, who lives in nearby El Segundo, became first American man to win the world title since Todd Eldredge in 1996.
“This is such an electric building,” he said. “I’m here to cheer on the Lakers and Kings whenever I can. I turned that nervous energy into adrenaline.”
In a preview of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Lysacek boosted his reputation and proved he could win without the ultimate weapon in skating – a quadruple jump.
Lysacek landed eight triple jumps and scored a personal best of 159.93 points in the long program to win by a comfortable margin with a total of 242.23 points.
Lysacek upset Brian Joubert of France, who skated last and likely had the title in hand until he tripped and fell face first on the ice after landing his final jump, a triple salchow. Joubert, in first place after Wednesday’s short program, slid to third. He opened with a flawless quadruple toe loop but stumbled on a triple axel.
Canada’s Patrick Chan, the 18-year-old who has captivated the skating world this season, finished second. He also nailed eight triple jumps.
Lysacek wore a velveteen midnight blue tuxedo outfit and skated with vigor and panache to Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. His fluid footwork and tight spins earned him the highest component – or artistic – score of the night.
Read the full article here: American Evan Lysacek wins gold medal at figure skating championships
LOS ANGELES — Evan Lysacek couldn’t contain his excitement. In the closing seconds of an error-free long program, as he spun faster and faster in front of the judges and his hometown fans, he pumped his fists.
The gesture wasn’t part of his planned choreography but it reflected his feelings. Lysacek, so often an also-ran on the international stage, won the gold medal at the World Figure Skating Championships on Thursday night at Staples Center.
Lysacek, who lives in nearby El Segundo, became first American man to win the world title since Todd Eldredge in 1996.
“This is such an electric building,” he said. “I’m here to cheer on the Lakers and Kings whenever I can. I turned that nervous energy into adrenaline.”
In a preview of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Lysacek boosted his reputation and proved he could win without the ultimate weapon in skating – a quadruple jump.
Lysacek landed eight triple jumps and scored a personal best of 159.93 points in the long program to win by a comfortable margin with a total of 242.23 points.
Lysacek upset Brian Joubert of France, who skated last and likely had the title in hand until he tripped and fell face first on the ice after landing his final jump, a triple salchow. Joubert, in first place after Wednesday’s short program, slid to third. He opened with a flawless quadruple toe loop but stumbled on a triple axel.
Canada’s Patrick Chan, the 18-year-old who has captivated the skating world this season, finished second. He also nailed eight triple jumps.
Lysacek wore a velveteen midnight blue tuxedo outfit and skated with vigor and panache to Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. His fluid footwork and tight spins earned him the highest component – or artistic – score of the night.
Read the full article here: American Evan Lysacek wins gold medal at figure skating championships
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Kim Yu-Na wins world figure skating title
By Philip Hersh
LOS ANGELES — Perfection may be the only thing left for Kim Yu-Na to shoot for.
She made history and made an Olympic gold medal next year seem a foregone conclusion by utterly dominating the World Figure Skating Championships.
Before a large contingent of compatriots in a sellout crowd Saturday night at the Staples Center, Kim not only became the first South Korean to win a world figure skating title but did it with a record score and won by a whopping 16 points despite two significant errors in her free skate.
"Tonight she skated so good there was no doubt," said Joannie Rochette, whose silver was the first medal for a Canadian woman at worlds in 21 years. "Anything is possible, but of course she is a tough competitor."
Kim, 18, botched one jump, a planned triple salchow, which became a downgraded double. And she scored no points on her final spin because she had not fulfilled the spin requirements.
"That is a lesson learned," Kim said. "I would like to do better the next time and make sure I do what I need to."
After consecutive world bronze medals, Kim won gold despite completing only five triple jumps. The rest of her skating was of surpassing quality.
Miki Ando of Japan, the 2007 world champion, was third, completing a fine comeback after being forced to withdraw midway through the 2008 worlds because of shoulder and leg injuries.
"I thought about not skating anymore," Ando said.
Kim's presumed archrival, 2008 world champion Mao Asada of Japan, finished only fourth, almost 20 points behind. Kim's total of 207.71 not only broke Asada's old record score but made her the first woman to top 200 points.
Read the full article here: Kim Yu-Na wins world figure skating title
A talented young lady from Korea has grabbed a gold medal from this prestigious competition this year.
LOS ANGELES — Perfection may be the only thing left for Kim Yu-Na to shoot for.
She made history and made an Olympic gold medal next year seem a foregone conclusion by utterly dominating the World Figure Skating Championships.
Before a large contingent of compatriots in a sellout crowd Saturday night at the Staples Center, Kim not only became the first South Korean to win a world figure skating title but did it with a record score and won by a whopping 16 points despite two significant errors in her free skate.
"Tonight she skated so good there was no doubt," said Joannie Rochette, whose silver was the first medal for a Canadian woman at worlds in 21 years. "Anything is possible, but of course she is a tough competitor."
Kim, 18, botched one jump, a planned triple salchow, which became a downgraded double. And she scored no points on her final spin because she had not fulfilled the spin requirements.
"That is a lesson learned," Kim said. "I would like to do better the next time and make sure I do what I need to."
After consecutive world bronze medals, Kim won gold despite completing only five triple jumps. The rest of her skating was of surpassing quality.
Miki Ando of Japan, the 2007 world champion, was third, completing a fine comeback after being forced to withdraw midway through the 2008 worlds because of shoulder and leg injuries.
"I thought about not skating anymore," Ando said.
Kim's presumed archrival, 2008 world champion Mao Asada of Japan, finished only fourth, almost 20 points behind. Kim's total of 207.71 not only broke Asada's old record score but made her the first woman to top 200 points.
Read the full article here: Kim Yu-Na wins world figure skating title
A talented young lady from Korea has grabbed a gold medal from this prestigious competition this year.
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