Women’s figure skater Shinjia takes third in short after ‘unfortunate jumping mistake’
Figure skating’s next big thing, Shin Jia (Youngdong), finished third in her first competition at the Gangneung 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
Shin wobbled her first jump in the women’s single short program at Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on Monday, earning a technical score (TES) of 35.86, artistic score (PCS) of 30.62, and total score of 66.48 to finish third out of 18 competitors.
‘Rival’ Mao Shimada (JPN) took first place with a TES of 39.41 and a PCS of 31.64 for a total of 71.05 points. Shimada won gold at last year’s International Ice Skating Union (ISU) Junior World Championships. Shin Jia followed Shimada with a silver medal. She will be competing again.
Yo Takagi (JPN) followed with 37.67 points on TES and 29.56 points on PCS for a total of 67.23 points. Kim Yoo-sung (Pyeongchon), known for his twin figure skaters, finished fourth with a TES of 36.52 and a PCS of 27.12 for a total of 63.64 points. The free skate, which will determine the medal colors, will take place on March 30.
Shinjia was the 16th gymnast out of 18 to take the silver medal after Shimada. She entered the arena to cheers and applause from the packed house and began her performance to the short program “Waltz of Enchantment.
However, due to nerves and pressure, she made a mistake on her first jump, a triple flip-triple toe-loop combination jump, and performed a triple flip-double toe-loop combination jump. A wobbly landing on the first jump resulted in a double triple flip, which cost her nearly three points on this element of her routine.
However, she followed it up with a clean performance. After a clean double axel to earn a GOE of 1.04, Shin completed a flying sit spin (level 4) and then a clean triple lutz for her final jump. She finished her performance with a beautifully executed change foot combination spin and step sequence (level 4) and a layback spin (level 3).
Earlier in the day, in the figure ice dance rhythmic dance, Kim Ji-nee and In-moo (Gyeonggi-do Ice Sports Federation) scored 31.16 points in the TES, 25.42 points in the PCS and 56.58 points in the total to finish third out of 12 teams. The duo will also challenge for a medal in the free dance at the same venue on Tuesday.
As clouds of spectators gathered at the Gangneung Ice Arena, where the figure competition took place, “Figure Queen” Kim Yeon-ah watched her juniors compete from the stands.
Meanwhile, the South Koreans were unable to add to their medal tally on the day, leaving them with four gold, five silver and four bronze medals.
Canada’s Eli Bouchard won the men’s big air final at Welly Healy Park Ski Resort in Hwaseong, Gangwon Province, with a score of 183.25 points. Lee Chae-woon (Surigyo), who was going for his second gold medal of the Games in the event, missed qualifying with a sore left ankle.
Yura Murase of Japan won the gold medal in the women’s big air final with 154.25 points. In the women’s freestyle skiing big air final, Flora Tabanelli (ITA) won with 180.00 points, her second gold medal after slopestyle.
South Korea will be back in the medal hunt on Monday. Men’s single figure skater Kim Hyun-gyeom (HAN AD) will look to win a medal in the free skate.