Defending Olympic champion Kim Yu-na finished first on Thursday in the short program at the Sochi Winter Olympics.
 
Kim scored a season-best 74-point-92 on the first day of ladies skating competition at the Iceberg Skating Palace.
 
Russia's Adelina Sotnikova and Italy's Carolina Kostner finished in a close second and third at 74-point-64 and 74-point-12, respectively.
 
Yulia Lipnitskaia, who led Russia's victory in team competition last week, came in fifth. Vancouver Olympic silver medalist Mao Asada of Japan finished 16th.
 
South Korea’s Kim Hae-jin and Park So-youn also qualified for Friday’s free skate in 18th and 23rd place, respectively. It was their Olympic debut.