Who has the best chance of beating Yu na Kim at the 2013 worlds?

[Vash01]

After watching Yu na Kim's skate on YT, it seems she will be the one to beat at the 2013 worlds, and later at the 2014 Olympics again.

While she was away, ladies figure skating suffered quite a bit, but we saw improvement in Kostner, and some new young skaters on the scene, while Mao seemed to start over.

Which of these ladies has the best chance of beating Yu na Kim at the 2013 worlds?

[Sylvia]

Miki Ando isn't competing this season (she won't be at Japan Nationals).

[Maofan7]

Mao Asada. Returning to form

[rfisher]

None of the above

[IceAlisa]

What's Kostner up to these days?

[Sylvia]

Kostner's scheduled to make her season debut at Golden Spin of Zagreb this week (see competition thread in Kiss and Cry).

[sk8ingcoach]

Kostner does have the ability. If she can pull off clean programs with two 3flips and a 2a+3T then she could easily win. She has the components she just needs to do the jumps and she could beat almost anyone IMO

[aftershocks]

Kaetlyn Osmond has the same number of votes as Kostner (at this point). Oh well, it is a random, unscientific FSU poll in Trash Can.

In her highly probable debut at Worlds, if Osmond skates clean she will realistically be fortunate to make top five or six. But yeah, sure Worlds is taking place in Canada, which also counts for a lot. Top of podium though, no way in her first time at Worlds. She's a shining star alright, but give her some time to fully develop. It's like just because she's one of the more talented singles ladies Canada has seen in awhile, she must suddenly shoot right to the top over everyone else.

[judgejudy27]

if Kim skates even reasonably well she wins both the 2013 Worlds and 2014 Olympics, period. I voted other, as the answer is Yu Na. The one with the best chance to beat Yu Na Kim is Yu Na Kim.

[l'etoile]

Ice is slippery. You never know. You can only hope that the best wins the night

[aftershocks]

^ I don't care how slippery is ice, 2013 Worlds is NOT going to be like Kimmie Meissner gutting it out and grabbing gold at post-Olympic Worlds 2006 in a depleted field, where all the top favorites appeared to be tiptoeing through the tulips as they one-by-one gave away the top of the podium.

[momsk8]

Mao Asada, she already beat Yuna in 2010

[momsk8]

l'etolie,
I love your comment

[aftershocks]

After viewing both of Yu Na's new programs that she debuted in Dortmund, I think it might be true as judgejudy commented that Yu Na is the only one who can beat herself. Albeit, ice is slippery and Yu Na lost a bit of focus or endurance in the latter part of her fp (during combo jumps she singled, and when she fell on a jump). However, she recovered nicely. I think her layback has improved a bit, but it's still not the best position aesthetically, and she still doesn't seem to make any effort to point her feet (I know it's not easy to do in stiff skate boots, but it would enhance her look on the ice). She was obviously focused more on getting the programs out there than in performing them to perfection.

These programs tho' are great for Yu Na. I like them much better than I do Mao's programs (and I have previously tended to enjoy Mao's skating more than Yu Na's). Although Mao is very lovely and courageous, and I admire her comeback, I think both of Yu Na's programs are stronger this season and have the potential to be even stronger at Worlds, especially if Yu Na comes prepared and skates clean. Yet there is something about Yu Na's reserve that keeps me from being fully drawn to her skating.

[RumbleFish]

Miki Ando, if she comes back, I think has the best chance. Not that she is so good, but her usual strategy of take it slow and pray till everyone else falls could work. It has before.

[orbitz]

Mao Asada, she already beat Yuna in 2010

Not really. Kim defeated herself by making major mistakes in the SP and that was why she lost. I just haven't been impressed with Mao's technical jumps even when she's winning this season.

[spikydurian]

Don't know. Yuna is not at her best form yet and she didn't promise anything big this season so ... well.. anyone of the handful girls can beat her, IMO. But I do think even though she's off form, she can still keep within top 5 easily. Good luck to all the ladies. I just want to see great skating and programs from all.

[judgejudy27]

Don't know. Yuna is not at her best form yet and she didn't promise anything big this season so ... well.. anyone of the handful girls can beat her, IMO. But I do think even though she's off form, she can still keep within top 5

Too cute. Yu Na's scores from her first event back would have won the Grand Prix final quite easily, and would have been about 20 points over 2nd place Wagner. At this event she had a mistake filled long program and was quite mediocre for her standards. She doesnt have to promise anything, anyone knows she is not coming back to just be top 5, and unless she breaks her leg early in her long program she wont ever be down in 4th or 5th against the current crop of girls (although even then her usual short program would probably have her way ahead of the field, and able to win atleast bronze even with a 1 or 2 triple long, especialy seeing Asada winning events with only 3 triples).

[Vash01]

Not really. Kim defeated herself by making major mistakes in the SP and that was why she lost. I just haven't been impressed with Mao's technical jumps even when she's winning this season.

You can say that about any favorite. She lost because she made mistakes and the other skaters did not. It means they skated better than her on that day, and won fair and square. There is no such thing as defeating yourself, no matter how good you are. IIRC her LP was not that flawless either but she was given higher marks than a clean Mao, which was a travesty. Mao beat her in that competition, period.

[riveredge]

anyone can beat yuna.. you never know and no one is guaranteed a win. heck if mao won with only 3 triples in nhk then anyone can win..