Lee Haein surges back for Four Continents title as Republic of Korea sweeps top two spots
The 17-year-old Korean skater told Olympics.com she worked with Yuna Kim prior to the event. She took gold ahead of teammate Kim Yelim after Isabeau Levito withdrew due to illness.
Figure Skating
Lee Haein has won the biggest figure skating title of her career.
The 17-year-old from the Republic of Korea surged from sixth place after the short program to win the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Colorado Springs on Friday (10 February) night, scoring a 141.71 in the free skate to total a 210.84.
Lee steps up a spot on the podium from a year ago, when she claimed the silver at this event.
Late-program jumping issues felled Lee's teammate, Beijing 2022 Olympian Kim Yelim, who dropped her short program lead to settle for silver with a 209.29 (136.45).
Another teen, Japan's Chiba Mone, came from seventh to win the bronze. Her 137.70 brought her to 204.98 overall.
American Isabeau Levito was second after the short program but withdrew from the free skate minutes before she was to take to the ice. She "is not feeling well and withdrew for medical reasons," officials said.
It marks the first time in the event's 24 stagings that Korea has gone one-two in any of the four disciplines.
Lee told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview this week that she had spent time on the ice recently with Olympic champion Yuna Kim, her countrywoman, to help her with her programs. Lee's win follows Kim's Four Continents victory in 2009, which another Korean, Cha Junhwan, won the men's event last year.
She beamed with joy after her win, telling the Colorado Springs crowd: "I always try to do my best, but this time I tried not to think about my results and focus on my training process. And I think I did [that] well, so I'm happy right now."
She added: "Today I was so nervous.... I didn't expect the gold medal," she said. "I'm grateful and thankful to have the next gold [after Yuna]. I was surprised with my performance today. I'm just thankful to [my team]."
Four Continents features the top international skaters from outside of Europe and is the final major event ahead of next month's World Championships, set to be held in Saitama, Japan. Two weeks ago, Europe crowned its champions in Espoo, Finland.
Earlier on Saturday, reigning world silver medallists Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi took the lead after the pairs short program, while Madison Chock and Even Bates are ahead after the rhythm dance.
Lee Haein's win and Korea takes three of top four
It was a big night for the Korean women as they out-skated their Japanese, American and Canadian counterparts.
In addition to Lee and Kim at the top of the podium, 16-year-old Kim Chaeyeon claimed fourth place. Watanabe Rinka of Japan used her triple Axel to launch from eight to fifth overall, while Bradie Tennell and Amber Glenn of the U.S. rounded out the top seven.
With Levito's surprise withdrawal, Tennell is the most recent American woman to land on the Four Continents podium, capturing bronze in 2020.
Skating first in the final group, Lee's Phantom of the Opera free skate was engaging from start to finish as she landed a double Axel-triple toe-loop combination to open, then a triple Lutz-triple toe. She would add four more triples in the skate, then was overcome with emotion as her scores came in.
Lee, who has performed the triple Axel in the past, has opted to focus on the triple-triple combination this season, she said.
Chiba, who is 16, was competing at her first major international figure skating event. She is the reigning Japanese silver medallist - in the juniors. She placed second in the free skate behind Lee, while Kim, skating last, struggled at the finish of her program, getting points knocked off her final two jumping passes.
It was enough to give Lee the gold medal - and her first major international win since she swept her two Junior Grand Prix events in 2019.
ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2023: Full schedule
See the full schedule for the skating in Colorado Springs, with all times listed local (Mountain Time).
Saturday, 11 February
14:50-16:55 - Pairs free skate
18:15-21:55 - Men's free skate
Sunday, 12 February
13:15-15:50 - Ice dance free dance
18:30-21:00 - Exhibition gala