Kim Yu-na takes huge lead after women’s short program at Trophee Bompard

Kim Yu-na opens huge lead at Trophee Bompard

PARIS — World champion Kim Yu-na of South Korea opened up a lead of nearly 17 points after the women’s short program at the Trophee Bompard on Friday.

Performing to a medley of James Bond themes in an elegant halter neck dress with gold and silver sequins, the South Korean hit perfect landings on her jumps, including a new difficult triple lutz-triple toeloop combination that opened her program.

Kim received 76.08 points to secure first place, while Yukari Nakano of Japan finished second with 59.64.

Kim’s main rival in Paris, 2008 world champion Mao Asada of Japan, missed her first jump and took third place with 58.96 points.

Kim pumped her fists and waved to the crowd immediately after her stunning performance.

“I didn’t (celebrate) because of my score, but because this was the first time I was skating my program and ultimately everything went fine,” Kim said. “I was able to deliver a good performance to the audience and that’s great.”

Asada had a poor start, missing a triple axel in a triple axel-double toeloop combination.

“I made a little mistake,” she said. “Let’s hope I won’t do that again in tomorrow’s long program. I can’t explain what happened. I felt good on the ice. Maybe I was lacking speed before the jump.”

Former European champion Tomas Verner of the Czech Republic led after the men’s short program, opening with a quadruple jump to beat Nobunari Oda of Japan by almost two points.

Oda was second with 79.20, and reigning world junior champion Adam Rippon of the United Sates took third with 75.82.

Rippon’s score was a personal best after having moved last year to Canada to train with coach Brian Orser.

“It was a little bit shaky, but I’m happy with the jumps and the interpretation,” the 19-year old said.

Former world champion Brian Joubert botched his quadruple toeloop-triple toeloop combination before missing his landing on a triple lutz to finish in sixth place with 72.15 points.

In the pairs short program, defending world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany outclassed their rivals with a score of 72.98 points, improving their previous personal best of 72.30.

In the ice dance, world bronze medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada took an early lead after dominating the compulsory program with 38.41 points.

This is the first time the Trophee Bompard has opened the six-event ISU Grand Prix, which traditionally starts with Skate America.

Skaters collect points toward a place in the Grand Prix final in December at Tokyo, Japan.