Kim feeling confident ahead of Sochi

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Figure skating superstar Kim Yu-Na expressed confidence yesterday in her ability going into next month's Winter Games in Sochi but insists she is "not focusing" on defending her Olympic title.

The 23-year-old South Korean has been off the ice since September, after picking up a metatarsal injury in her right foot, but is working herself back to form.

"I'm in good shape," Kim said at a training camp in Seoul as she bids to become just the third woman to win back-to-back Olympic figure skating titles and the first since Germany's Katarina Witt in 1984 and 1988.

"It's not easy to do well every time, but I've made preparations enough to gain plenty of confidence," she said.

But Kim said she has been preparing for the Winter Olympics in Sochi as if it were just another event.

"Many people talk about winning two straight gold medals, but I'm not focusing on defending the title," she said.

"I just hope to do everything I've prepared to do. As long as I can do that, I think the results will follow and I should be able to end my career without regrets," she added.

Known as "Queen Yu-Na" in her native country, Kim won gold at the Olympics in Vancouver in 2010.

She had made a competitive return in December last year after a break of more than 18 months from the sport.

In March she won a world title in Canada, setting herself up as a strong contender for back-to-back Olympic gold medals.

After an injury lay-off, she once again captured an impressive triumph, albeit in a minor event, last month in Croatia.

Kim has said she will retire after the 2014 Winter Olympics and seek to become a member of the International Olympic Committee.

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