The 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships continued in London, ON, Canada, with the Ladies Short Programs and the Short Dance.
Yuna Kim (KOR) skates to the lead in Ladies Short Program
Yuna Kim of Korea skated to the lead in the Ladies Short Program. Italy's Carolina Kostner came second and Kanako Murakami of Japan finished third.
Kim opened her program to Kiss of the Vampire with a triple Lutz-triple toeloop followed by a triple flip. The 2010 Olympic Champion also produced a double Axel and picked up a level four for the footwork and the combination spin. Kim scored 69.97 points. I was worried because it has been a long time since I competed at the World Championships, but at the same time I was confident. I have done many competitions (in my career). I could do what I had to do. I did all my jumps. I checked the levels and I got some lower levels on some elements than expected, but I think it was ok, the 2009 World Champion said. I'll try to be not too nervous about the long program. I did a clean long program at Korean Nationals, so I know I can do it, she added.
Performing to Transylvanian Lullaby and Devil's Trill, Kostner completed a triple loop, double Axel and three level four elements, but she went down on the triple toe-triple toe combination. The defending World Champion earned 66.86 points, a new seasons best. I fell on the combination which upset me a little bit. I cannot say what happened there, it goes so fast. Otherwise I had a wonderful skate and I felt so welcomed by the audience here, the 26-year-old commented. I actually thought: The more you do it, the more you get used to it. But unfortunately it always feels the same; you come here and you start from zero. I might have done this ten times before, and my 11th world championship is not easier than any other before, the five-time European Champion shared.
Murakami's routine to Prayer for Taylor included a double Axel, triple toe-triple toe and triple flip as well as three level-four spins. The 2013 Four Continents bronze medalist posted a new seasons best of 66.64 points. To be in third place is a little miracle. I don't want to think about the placement now, the 18-year-old noted. These are my third World Championships and I was able to perform calm. There was a little bit of hesitation before I skated, but I was able to skate with assurance, she continued.
Kaetlyn Osmond (CAN) and Ashley Wagner (USA) finished fourth (64.73 points) and fifth (63.98 points) with clean performances. Mao Asada (JPN) is currently ranked sixth (62.10 points).
Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) win Short Dance
Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) won the Short Dance ahead of Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir of Canada. Russia's Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev are currently ranked third.
Davis/White's dance to March, Waltz and Polka from the ballet Giselle was highlighted by fast twizzles and smooth footwork. The reigning World silver medalists picked up a level four for the twizzles, the circular footwork, the lift and the second Polka sequence to set a new personal best of 77.12 points, surpassing the previous highest score of 76.17 points, set by themselves at the Grand Prix Final in 2011. We are really pleased, it was our best performance yet. We had a good time. We appreciated the audience support, Davis said. We take each competition, each event at a time. We want to perform an emotionally-charged performance. We need to put out skates like we do in practice, she continued, referring to the upcoming Free Dance.
Virtue/Moir's dance to The Waltz Goes On featured two level-four Polka sequences and a level-four rotational lift, but Virtue wobbled on the twizzle (level three). The defending World Champions picked up 73.87 points. It was an amazing feeling. We knew it would be exciting and it gave us goose bumps and we had to remind ourselves to bring it in and to focus on our job, Virtue commented. Obviously we're not pleased with how we stand going into the free, marks wise. We really went out there and delivered it was a strong program. Technically, we left some marks on the board. I think in the twizzles we cover a lot of ice and if you do the tiniest little mistake you have to fight for it, Moir explained.
Performing to a Polka and Waltz from Russian movies, Bobrova/Soloviev produced three level-four elements and earned a new personal best score of 70.05 points. We gave our best performance as the marks prove. We are very pleased to be in top shape for the most important competition of the season, Soloviev said. I really enjoyed performing today, I felt my partner, we really connected. I was living the whole story we had thought of, Bobrova added.
2012 World bronze medalists Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat (FRA) placed fourth at 69.65 points with a Polka and Waltz to a French Can Can and Waltz. European bronze medalists Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte (ITA) finished fifth with a dance to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (67.93 points). Kaitlyn Weaver/ Andrew Poje (CAN) round up the top six at 67.54 points.
The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2013 continue Friday with the Pairs and Men's Free Skating. For more information, full entry lists and results please see: www.isu.org and http://www.worlds2013.ca/index.html