Kim skates to Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens to top her own world record by 0.29 in the ladies' short program.

South Korea's Kim Yu-na won the short program on Feb. 4 with a world record at the Four Continents figure skating competition in Vancouver, raising her chances of winning gold in the 2010 Winter Olympics that will be held in the same Canadian city.

Kim, a two-time world championship bronze medalist, scored 72.24 points to edge two Canadian rivals, Joannie Rochette and Cynthia Phaneuf with, who scored 66.90 and 60.98, respectively. Her Japanese rival Mao Asada, the defending champion, was ranked sixth with 57.86, after making critical mistakes in jumps and spins.

Kim skated to Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens and topped her own world record by 0.29 in the ladies' short program for her textbook perfect triple flip-triple toe loop combination jump. Kim recorded 71.95 in the 2007 World Championship where she obtained bronze medal.

After her flawless performance, Kim received a standing ovation from spectators at the Pacific Coliseum, which will be the venue for the figure skating competition of next year's Winter Olympics.

Two other Korean skaters, Kim Na-young and Kim Hyeon-jung, ended 16th and 17th, earning 43.94 and 41.64, respectively.

A total of 24 top-scoring skaters will advance to the free skating competition on Saturday.