Kim Yu-na Arrives in NY for Skate America

Kim Yu-na seemed relaxed after arriving in Lake Placid, New York. She joked to reporters, “Many new faces.”

The world figure skating champion, 19, said she achieved what she wanted over a month of training. She will compete in the Grand Prix event Skate America that begins today.

Smiling, Kim greeted reporters. She drove 560 kilometers over seven hours from Toronto, but did not seem tired.

She said her goal is to maintain a score of more than 200. Though she made a mistake in jumping at the season’s first Grand Prix event, the Trophee Eric Bompard, in Paris last month, she broke her world record with a score of 210.03 after first setting the mark at the world championships in Los Angeles in March.

No other skater has breached 200 this season.

“I know my fans have great expectations of me since I got a good score in the first round. I’m a little bit worried, but will stay alert. I want to finish the program without making a big mistake. Though I don’t care about records, I want to maintain a score of around 200,” she said.

On the recent poor performances of her competitors such as Mao Asada and Miki Ando of Japan, Kim said, “Most skaters seem very nervous in Olympic season. Since there’s enough time until next year’s Vancouver Winter Olympics, other skaters will prepare for it very well.”

Though blowing away her competition recently, she said, “It is helpful to compete against rivals, but more important to stay calm under any circumstance.”

Kim will wear the same clothing in the same program as she did in Paris. “Since I got lower scores in spins and spirals in free skating in the first round, I focused on every single detail and streamlined the program,” she said.

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