Kim leaves rivals behind with sizzler

WORLD champion Kim Yu-na of South Korea captured the Trophee Bompard in Paris on Saturday, winning the free skate with a flawless performance to finish ahead of Japanese skaters Mao Asada and Yukari Nakano.

After blowing the field away in Friday's short program, Kim did it again to total 210.03 points after receiving 133.95 in the free skate and sound a warning ahead of the Vancouver Olympics in four months' time. "When I finished skating, I didn't look immediately at the overall score," Kim, 19, said. "When I saw the score, I was a bit surprised. This was just my first competition of the season and I didn't expect such a good performance."

Kim's previous best total was 207.71 points in becoming world champion earlier this year.

Performing to George Gershwin's "Piano Concerto in F Major" in a bejeweled blue halter-neck dress, Kim was untouchable in combining speed, athletic strength and grace to leave Asada in her wake.

Asada, the 2008 world champ, rose one spot to second overall with 173.99 points. Nakno finished third on 165.70 points.

Nobunari Oda of Japan captured the men's title, winning the free skate to finish ahead of Tomas Verner of Czech Republic and American teenager Adam Rippon.

European bronze medalists Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov of Russia overtook defending world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany in the free skate to win the pairs event with 192.93 points.

Savchenko and Szolkowy finished third on 174.42 points behind Canadian pair Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison, who totaled 180.97.

In the ice dance, world bronze medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada won with 197.71 points, ahead of French pair Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat, with 181.64. British siblings Sinead and John Kerr were third on 177.11.

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