VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Question: Will American audiences tune in to a ladies figure skating competition in which an American is not in the hunt for the gold medal? Maybe not even make an appearance on the podium? It hasn’t happened since 1964, but we may find out in the next few days, for this Olympic gold will be decided between a couple of longtime Asian rivals: South Korea and Japan.
But if you appreciate great skating, don’t let that put you off. Kim Yu-Na, the 19-year-old Korean favorite is, at her best, the best female skater I’ve ever seen. I don’t say that lightly, but Kim is the complete package: elegant, athletic, fast, beautiful, charismatic. Her programs are wonderfully choreographed. She has all the jumps, except the rare (for women) triple axel. Her spins are weightless. But the 2009 World Champion will have to win here before I put her above the likes of past Olympic champions Kristi Yamaguchi and Katarina Witt. She’ll have to prove she can withstand the suffocating Olympic pressure.
Full story: Asian contingent could shut out U.S. in ladies’ singles – via SportsIllustrated.cnn.com