Kim Yu-na announces new programs for upcoming season

Two-time world figure skating champion Kim Yu-na on Monday announced her new programs for the upcoming season.

Through her Seoul-based agency, All That Sports, Kim said she will perform her short program to "Send in the Clowns," a ballad composed by Stephen Sondehim for the 1973 musical, "A Little Night Music." Her free skate will be choreographed to the tune of "Adios Nonino," written by Argentine tango composer Astor Piazzolla in 1959.

Kim is slated to compete in two Grand Prix events hosted by the International Skating Union (ISU) in October and November, and she will try to defend her Olympic gold medal at the Sochi Winter Games in February next year.

Kim, who sat out the entire 2011-2012 season while mulling over her future, has already said the 2013-2014 season will be her last one.

Kim competed in minor events in late 2012 to earn enough technical points to qualify for the 2013 world championships, and then grabbed her second world title in March this year in Canada.

She said she'd long wanted to perform to "Send in the Clowns" since she first listened to the piece. "Adios Nonino" is a tango piece that Kim said is "an exact opposite" to her short program music, and she also called it "one of my favorite songs."

"For my last competitive season, I am pleased to have selected songs that I've always wanted to use in my programs," she said. "I think my free skate will probably be the most difficult program I've ever done, but I am satisfied with the choice."

"Adios Nonino" will be Kim's first tango music since "El Tango de Roxanne" from the film "Moulin Rouge!" She used that piece for her short program in 2005-2006 and again in the 2006-2007 seasons, her first two at the senior level.

David Wilson, Kim's choreographer for seven years, built both programs, All That Sports said.

Kim has been invited to Skate Canada International from Oct. 25-27 in Saint John, New Brunswick and to the Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris from Nov. 15-17, as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series.

The ISU organizes six Grand Prix events each fall and invites skaters based on their results at the most recent world championships. Skaters compete in two Grand Prix events each and earn points based on their placements. The top six skaters in each discipline -- men's singles, ladies' singles, pairs and ice dance -- qualify for the Grand Prix Final.

This year's Grand Prix Final will take place in Fukuoka, Japan from Dec. 6-8.

At Skate Canada International, Kim will skate alongside Akiko Suzuki of Japan, who finished third at the 2012 world championships, and American Gracie Gold, the runner-up at this year's U.S. Championships.

At the Trophee Eric Bompard, Kim's competition will include Ashley Wagner, a two-time U.S. champion.

Kim last competed in a Grand Prix event during the 2009-2010 season. She won both of her Grand Prix stops, the Trophee Bompard and Skate America, and also went on to capture the Grand Prix Final.

Known for her technical precision and artistry, Kim owns the world records in the short program (78.50), free skate (150.06) and total score (228.56), all set in her gold medal-winning performance at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. (Yonhap news)