S. Korean teen Lee shines, Chinese pair withdraws from Four Continents
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E-mail Xinhua, February 12, 2023
South Korea's teenage sensation Lee Hae-in surged from sixth to take the women's gold at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Colorado Springs, the United States on Friday, while China's ice dancing Olympians Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu withdrew due to injury.
Lee, 17, put out a flawless and expressive performance to "The Phantom of the Opera", reeling off seven triple jumps including a triple Lutz-triple toe combination, and collecting a level four for her spins and footwork.
With a personal best of 141.71 points in free skate and 210.84 overall, Lee snatched the first Four Continents title for a South Korean woman since Kim Yu-na won in 2009.
"I always try to do my best. Last year I got the silver medal at Four Continents," Lee said. "But this year I tried not to focus on the final results and just on the training. And I think I did well, I made no mistakes and I'm so happy right now."
Lee led the South Korean women to a 1-2 finish, as overnight leader Kim Ye-lim settled for the silver with 209.29 points, while their compatriot Kim Chae-yeon slipped from third to fourth with 202.39. Japan's Mone Chiba climbed from seventh to third in her ISU Championships debut with 204.98 points.
In ice dancing, China's sole representatives Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu withdrew before the rhythm dance on Friday, citing an injury to Liu.
Two-time Four Continents champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States danced into the lead with a season's best 87.67 points, beating the Canadian duos of Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Sorensen and Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha to second and third temporarily.
Reigning world silver medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan took the lead after scoring 71.19 points in the pairs short program, Canada's Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps sit second, and local favorites Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe are ranked third.
China's young pairs Zhang Siyang/Yang Yongchao and Wang Huidi/Jia Ziqi are currently placed eighth and ninth among the 10 pairs, with 56.10 and 53.65 points respectively.
The Four Continents Championships continues Sunday with the pairs and men's free skate.
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