Women's Figure Skating - Short Program Recap from Vancouver 2010

Last night was the short program of women's figure skating, perhaps the most popular of all the figure skating events. There were certainly some interesting moments. South Korean Kim Yu-Na posted a record score for the short program of 78.50 and is comfortably in first place after skating to a nice James Bond medley. Yu-Na is the reigning world champion.

One of my favorites and one of the youngest Olympians, Mirai Nagasu got a bloody nose during her performance to Pirates of the Caribbean. Nevertheless, she had her best short program score and is in 6^th place but nearly 15 points behind Yu-Na.

Another American, 17 year old Rachel Flatt, is just ahead of Nagasu. Joannie Rochette, the Canadian figure skater who lost her mother just last week, turned in a fine performance and then broke down in tears. She sits 3^rd with 71.36. In 2^nd is Japanese Mao Asada with73.78, and in 5^th is fellow Japanese Miki Ando at 64.76.

There is a big gap between the top 3 and the rest of the field, but with the free skate coming up and counting more than the short program, lots of young ladies are still in contention. Thursday night is the free skate and conclusion of the women's figure skating event.