Skater Kim Yu-na vows good result in upcoming season with new music

SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- World figure skating champion Kim Yu-na of South Korea
expressed confidence Thursday in her upcoming performance at the winter Olympics,
where she will perform to new music.

The 18-year-old skater, who won gold at the world championship in March, will
perform her short program to the "James Bond 007" theme, and her long program to
George Gershwin's "Piano Concerto in F Major."
"I knew that the music for the short program has been rarely used by male or
female skaters, and I was worried whether I can play well," said Kim at a press
conference ahead of an ice show to be held Friday in Seoul with former world
champion Michelle Kwan. "But I'm very satisfied with the music as I train with
it."
She had skated to "Danse Macabre" by Camille Saint-Saens for the short program
and Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" for the free skating competition last
season. She racked up a record 207.71 points in the world championship held in
Los Angeles in March.
Kim said she was careful in choosing her music as preparations for the season.
"I chose challenging programs, but I know the more I struggle, the better the
result is," said the skater, who has become a heroine in her homeland.
Kim opens the 2009-2010 season in October with the first Grand Prix series
competition in Paris. Her Japanese archrival, former world champion Mao Asada,
will also compete in the event.
Kim, along with Asada, is one of the strongest candidates for the gold medal at
the Vancouver Winter Olympics. After the Seoul ice show wraps up Sunday, Kim will
return to Canada, where she trains with Canadian coach Brian Oser.
brk@yna.co.kr
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