Japan's Mao Asada took the ladies' gold medal at the Four Continents championships yesterday by recording a season's best total score of 193.25, defeating world champion compatriot Miko Ando.
Canada's Joannie Rochette finished second with 179.54 while Ando collected bronze with a total of 177.66.
The top three were separated by less than a point after the short program two days previously, but Asada outperformed the rest of the field in the free skate, with local hero and main rival Kim Yu-na absent with a hip injury.
PHOTO: AP
Asada performed to Chopin's Fantaisie Impromptu with a triple flip and triple loop that delighted the crowd.
She scored 132.31, less than a point off her free skate personal best.
"My performance was better than I expected," Asada said. "It was easily my best performance of the season so far."
"The audience helped me do that. It has been a great experience coming here. It's my first time to compete in Korea and the Korean fans have really supported me," she said.
The triumph has Asada in good stead for next month's World Championships in Sweden.
"Last year in the world championships I came second. I want to match that and hopefully even do better this year," Asada said.
Canadian champion and reigning Four Continents bronze medalist Rochette managed a season's best of 119.50.
With the gauntlet thrown down by Asada's impressive performance, Ando was last to skate and fell early in her routine, never looking like troubling her young compatriot. Ando scored 117.59.
Local skater Kim Na-young finished fourth with a personal best total score of 158.49, and Canada's Mira Leung was fifth.
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