Lee Hae-in takes silver at World Figure Skating Championships

Korean figure skater Lee Hae-in took silver at the World Figure Skating Championships on Friday, becoming the first Korean to medal in the tournament since Kim Yuna a decade ago.

Lee Hae-in performs during the women's free skate at the World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan on Friday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Korean figure skater Lee Hae-in took silver at the World Figure Skating Championships on Friday, becoming the first Korean to medal in the tournament since Kim Yuna a decade ago.

Lee took second with 220.94 points at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, slightly behind Japan's Kaori Sakamoto with 224.61 points and ahead of bronze medalist Loena Hendrickx of Belgium on 210.42 points.

The result was a career personal best for Lee, beating her personal record of 213.52 points at the 2022 ISU Four Continents Championships.

Lee held on to second place with a confident performance in the free skate after scoring 73.62 points in her short program on Wednesday.

Lee Hae-in poses after receiving the silver medal at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2023 in Saitama, Japan on Friday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Fellow Korean skater Kim Chae-yeon was not far off the podium, finishing sixth with 203.51 points, while Kim Ye-lim finished 18th on 174.30 points.

Lee is the first Korean skater to medal at the world championships since 2013 and only the second ever to reach the podium.

The only Korean skater to have medaled at the World Championships was Kim Yuna, who earned two bronzes in 2007 and 2008, two silvers in 2010 and 2011 and two golds in 2009 and 2013.

The highest a Korean skater had reached after Kim and before Lee’s success this year was a fifth-place finish by You Young last year. You was not competing this year due to failing to secure a place in the national squad.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]