Kim donates prize money

Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na will donate her prize money from the World Figure Skating Championships under way in Moscow to Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims, her agent said Sunday.

All That Sports, the management company for the reigning Olympic gold medalist, said that Kim has decided to use her silver prize money of $27,000 earned from the Moscow championship to support Japanese children affected by the disaster.

The donation will be made through UNICEF, as Kim has been serving as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. organization, the company said.

Kim finished second with 194.50 points at the world championships at Megasport Arena in Moscow after disappointing performances in the free skate. Miki Ando of Japan took the championship with 195.79 points. Carolina Kostner of Italy came in third at 184.68.

Kim also donated 100 million won to Haiti earthquake victims last year through UNICEF.

Meanwhile, Kim rose to second place in the world rankings compiled by the International Skating Union, trailing Italy’s Kostner. Japan’s Ando ranks third in the ISU standings.

The Moscow championship was Kim’s first competitive event since the previous world championships in March 2010. (Yonhap News)