The Story of Kim Yuna : 2008-2009 Season
Introduction
Going into the 2008-2009 season, the goal was simple: If Yu-Na wanted to have a chance at the 2010 Olympic gold, she had to win the 2009 World championships. Only one previous ladies Olympic champion in recent memory had not won a World title before winning the Olympics, and that was Sarah Hughes, and she had the benefit of skating on home ice for the Olympics. Yu-Na would not have such a benefit. In addition, the Worlds before the Olympics was the most highly coveted of the Worlds, since whoever won it would have the honor of going into the Olympics as the favorite and with momentum on their sides. Though in recent modern Olympics, the favorite in ladies had not won, throughout the history of figure skating, the favorite generally did win, thus history would be on their side. However, this was also the Worlds with the most pressure. 2009 Worlds would be taking place in Los Angeles, California.
But accomplishing this goal was not so easy, as the two previous Worlds had shown. 2007 Worlds had been astounding for reasons beyond the color of the medal, 2008 Worlds sad for reasons beyond the color of the medal. In both seasons, Yu-Na had been unable to make it to the end of the season healthy. Again, the goal was clear. Yu-Na had to remain healthy through Worlds, and she had changed her physical therapist in the hopes of doing this. She would need to establish herself as the favorite for Worlds from the beginning of the season, debuting programs that were world champion-worthy, and sustain that momentum till the end.
She had an additional challenge as well–not only to make the Grand Prix Final, but to win it for the third consecutive time in her home country. Only Irina Slutskaya had won three or more Grand Prix Finals. Other than Korean nationals, which Yu-Na no longer competed in as she had a bye due to her achievements at Worlds, Yu-Na had not competed in Korea. ISU events did not take place there regularly. Yu-Na had been too young to compete at the 2005 Four Continents in Korea, too injured to compete at the 2008 Four Continents in Korea, so if she could qualify and go to this year's at Grand Prix Final, which seemed likely, it would be a new experience–test–for Yu-Na.
Elsewhere in the skating world, all of the promising US juniors who had swept the 2008 World Junior Championship podium were now officially senior: Rachael Flatt, Caroline Zhang (who had competed on the Grand Prix as a senior the previous season but had been ineligible to go to Worlds), and Mirai Nagasu. If they could have a season equal or comparable to Yu-Na's senior debut in 2006, they would surely be a force at 2009 Worlds in their home country. The reigning world champion, Mao Asada, was now officially being coached and choreographed by Tatiana Tarasova. While 2007 World champion Miki had had a disappointing season after her win, it would never be wise to count her out. Finally, this season was a “do or die” season for Canadian Joannie Rochette, her country's best hope for an Olympic medal at the 2010 Olympics. While she had the talent and ability to be a contender, she had come up empty handed at Worlds multiple times now, and she needed one to establish herself as an Olympic medal contender.
And speaking of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the 2009 Four Continents championship would take place in Vancouver. Four Continents was a newer event for participants from all non-European countries, lacking the prestige of its equivalent, the European Championships, but its location in Vancouver meant many skaters were interested in competing there to gain familiarity and experience. Winning Four Continents might give the skater a bit of extra confidence at the Olympics. And skating on Olympic ice, skaters needed all the confidence they could get.
Programs
2008 Grand Prix
Skate America
Cup of China
Grand Prix Final Qualifying
Grand Prix Final
2009 Four Continents Championship
2009 World Championships
Short Program
Long Program
Worlds 2009 SP
Worlds 2009 LP
Worlds Podium Ceremony
The tears on the podium were the first Yu-Na had ever cried. She hadn't cried after winning bronze at the 2008 Worlds or 2007. She hadn't cried after winning the 2006 Grand Prix final. She had always felt that in order to be considered among the best skaters, one had to win Worlds. The Olympics was a different matter, as her own idol, Michelle Kwan, had never won the Olympics. But winning Worlds was a must, and the dream that had been much-delayed by injuries had finally come true. Yu-Na was a world champion. Her country's national anthem played for the first time as its flag rose in Los Angeles, California, home to the largest Korean community outside of Korea.
Worlds 2009 EX (Missing audio)