Kim Yu-na makes successful comeback in Germany after 19-month hiatus

Kim Yu-na, a South Korean figure skater who won the gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, made a successful comeback on Dec. 9 at the NRW Trophy in Dortmund, Germany.

After a 19-month hiatus, Kim grabbed the title with a total of 201.61 points. In the short program on Dec. 8, she earned 72.27 points, the season's highest. Before Kim's performance, the season's high in the event was Japanese Mao Asada's 67.95 at the NHK Trophy in November. In the free skating event a day later, Kim scored 129.34 points.

Kim’s total, 201.61, was the season's highest by a female figure skater. The season's previous best total score was 196.80 won by Mao at the International Skating Union Grand Prix Final in Sochi, Russia, on Dec. 8.

In Dortmund, Ksenia Makarova of Russia ranked second with a total of 159.01 points - 59.55 in the short program and
99.46 points in free skating.

Kim won the gold medal at the 2010 Olympics with three world records - 78.50 points in the short program, 150.06 in free skating and 228.56 in total.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com