Total Score 206.01 Points, Only 0.54 Points Behind 1st Place Levito
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Figure skating prospect Shin Jiah (14, Yeongdong Middle School) won a medal at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships for the first time in 16 years since the 'Figure Queen' Kim Yuna.
On the 18th (Korean time), Shin Jiah scored a technical element score (TES) of 74.52, program component score (PCS) of 62.11, and a total of 136.63 points in the women's singles free skating at the 2022 International Skating Union (ISU) World Junior Figure Skating Championships held at Tondiraba Ice Hall in Tallinn, Estonia.
Adding the short program score from the previous day, Shin Jiah achieved a personal best total score of 206.01 points and won the silver medal by placing second behind the United States' Isabeau Levito (15, 206.55 points). The narrow margin of 0.54 points left a bittersweet feeling.
This is the first time in 16 years since 'Figure Queen' Kim Yuna won a medal at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships (silver in 2005, gold in 2006) for a Korean athlete.
The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is considered the most prestigious among international junior figure skating competitions. Russian skaters, traditionally strong contenders, were unable to participate due to sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine.
Shin Jiah, who ranked second in the short program and was the 23rd out of 24 skaters to take the ice for the free skating, delivered a flawless clean performance.
She cleanly executed the first jump element, the triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination jump, earning a base value of 10.10 points and a Grade of Execution (GOE) of 1.85. She then flawlessly performed three solo jumps in succession: triple loop, triple Salchow, and double Axel. Her change foot combination spin received the highest level 4.
In the latter part of her program, Shin Jiah continued her clean performance by perfectly executing the double Axel-triple toe loop combination jump, the triple flip-double toe loop-double loop combination jump, and the triple Lutz. Following a level 3 step sequence, she completed the flying camel spin and flying change foot combination spin at level 4, finishing a perfect routine.
Through her management company All That Sports, Shin Jiah expressed, "I am really happy to have won a medal for the first time in 16 years since (Kim) Yuna unnie. I performed a satisfying program, and I was surprised and pleased to win an unexpected silver medal. Please look forward to more from me in the future."
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