For millions of South Koreans who stayed up into the early hours of Friday morning to watch their idol Kim Yu-na try to defend her Olympic figure-skating title, there was heartbreak and anger over her eventual silver finish.Within hours of the result, the website of the popular online campaigning forum, Change.org, crashed as hundreds of thousands logged on to sign a petition calling for a review of the judges' scores.The biggest name in South Korean sports, Kim has a fanatical following in her

Adelina Sotnikova won Russia's first ever women's Olympic figure skating gold in dramatic circumstances on Thursday as defending champion Kim Yu-Na was dumped into the silver medal position. Kim Yu-na poses with Russia's gold medalist Adelina Sotnikova and Itakly's bronze medal winner Carolina Kostner. (Yonhap)The 17-year-old took her first major title ahead of South Korean superstar Kim with Italy's Carolina Kostner winning the bronze after the free skating final."All the sacrifices were worth

South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na captured the silver medal in the ladies' singles competition at the Sochi Winter Games on Thursday.  (Osen)Kim earned 144.19 points in her free skate for a total of 219.11 points in her last Olympics.Adelina Sotnikova of Russia won the gold medal, the first in the ladies' singles for her country. She ended up with 224.59 points after leading the field in the free skating with 149.95 points. Carolina Kostner of Italy got the bronze with 216.73 points, after 14

Korea’s Kim Yu-na rehearses ahead of the free-skate program in Sochi, Russia, Thursday. (Yonhap)South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na went through a mostly smooth dress rehearsal on Thursday, her final run-through of the free skating program scheduled for later in the day.Kim is the leader in the ladies’ singles competition after Wednesday’s short program with 74.92 points, 0.28 point ahead of Adelina Sotnikova of Russia.Kim will be the last among 24 skaters to perform. Her free skate, set to a t

South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na is attracting the media spotlight worldwide after a “superb” short program in the ladies’ singles competition on Wednesday, as she defends the Olympic crown at the Sochi Winter Games.  　The 23-year-old gold medalist has taken the lead with a score of 74.92 going into Thursday’s medal-deciding free program, followed by Russia’s Adelina Sotnikova with 74.64 and Italy’s Carolina Kostner with 74.12.  　Performing to a musical score titled “Send in the Clowns,” Kim

Though her otherworldly performances may suggest otherwise, South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na said Wednesday she is still human.Kim took the lead after the short program in the ladies' singles competition with 74.92 points, the highest score by a female skater this season, and the fifth-highest mark of Kim's career.The 23-year-old looked as poised and collected as ever, and the skater called "Queen Yu-na" appeared set for another Olympic coronation.Nevertheless, Kim later admitted to having b

The triple axel has been Mao Asada's trademark. It also has been her curse. On Wednesday at the Sochi Olympics, the Japanese star fell on the 3{-revolution jump, and it ruined the rest of her short program. The result was a 16th-place finish, destroying any medals chance for the two-time world champion and silver medalist at the Vancouver Games. The only woman to regularly use the triple axel, Asada opens her 2-minute, 50-second routine with it. Nail it and the scoreboard lights up. Miss it and,

Kim Yu-na is on the verge of making figure skating history on Thursday, as she takes a tiny lead into the free skating portion of the ladies' singles competition.Kim scored 74.92 points in Wednesday's short program and leads Adelina Sotnikova of Russia by 0.28 point.In what will be her last Olympics, the South Korean is trying to become just the third woman to win consecutive gold medals in the ladies' singles.Kim later admitted to dealing with nerves before her turn but didn't look the part on

South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na took the lead after a dazzling short program in the ladies' singles competition at the Sochi Winter Games on Wednesday.The reigning Olympic champion scored 74.92 points to shoot to the top of the standings at Iceberg Skating Palace. It's the highest short program score by any female skater this season.Adelina Sotnikova of Russia finished in second place with 74.64 points, followed by Carolina Kostner of Italy at 74.12 points. The free skate is on Thursday.Kim