(Los Angeles) The South Korean Hae-in Lee, yet sixth after the short program, achieved a near-faultless freestyle on Friday to win the Four Continents Figure Skating Championship in Colorado Springs.
Aged 17, she became the first from her country to win the title in this competition bringing together skaters from all continents except Europe, since Yu-na Kim in 2009.
She scored 141.71 points for her free skate, her personal best, and finished with a total of 210.84 points.
After winning silver at the Four Continents last year, Lee said this time around she “tried not to think about the end result, but to focus on [son] training process”. “I think I did well,” she added.
Lee edged her compatriot Ye-lim Kim, who led after the short program, but placed third in the free program, totaling 209.29 points.
Young Japanese Mone Chiba, seventh after the short program, finished second in the free skate to claim bronze with 204.98 points.
United States champion Isabeau Levito, 15, who was second after the short program, had to forfeit shortly before the free, ill.
The Four Continents is the last major event before the World Championships which will take place in March in Saitama, Japan.
Saturday, place for men. The Japanese Kao Miura will try to maintain his five-point lead gained after the short program, ahead of the Canadian Keegan Messing.