Kim Chae-yeon of South Korea performs her free skate program during the women's singles figure skating competition at the Asian Winter Games at Heilongjiang Ice Events Training Center Multifunctional Hall in Harbin, China, Thursday. Yonhap

By beating three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto for the women's singles figure skating gold medal at the Asian Winter Games in China on Thursday, South Korean teenager Kim Chae-yeon left many people surprised and stunned -- including herself.

Kim, 18, scored a personal-best 147.56 points in the free skate to soar to the gold medal with 219.44 points, also her new career high. Kim's short program score of 71.88 points was also her new personal best.

Sakamoto, who has won the past three world titles, along with the 2022 Olympic bronze medal, topped the short program with 75.03 points. But she managed only 136.87 points in the free skate, with some uncharacteristically subpar jumps costing her valuable points.

Sakamoto was a heavy gold medal favorite, and Kim said afterward she didn't think she would be able to beat the Japanese star.

"Sakamoto is such an excellent skater," Kim said at Heilongjiang Ice Events Training Center Multifunctional Hall. "It hasn't really hit me yet. I find this hard to believe. I wanted to beat Sakamoto at least once at some point, and it's an honor to beat her at a big competition like this. I am really happy to have this gold medal around my neck."

Kim landed all of her jumps, including the opening double axel, a triple flip-double toe loop-double loop combination, and a triple flip.

"I've tried to improve the quality of my jumps," Kim said. "And I've been skating really well this season. I am really happy with that."

Kim, the 2024 world bronze medalist, said she was also pleased to have set personal-best scores across the board at the Asian Winter Games, which she regarded as a stepping stone for the Winter Olympics in Italy a year from now.

"I've been dreaming of competing in the Olympics since I started figure skating," Kim said. "That's my ultimate goal. I'd love to participate in the Olympics and put on a good performance."

She only picked up the sport while in third grade in elementary school, much later than most skaters of her age. She credited her love of the sport with helping her make rapid progress.

"I absolutely love figure skating," she said. "I think I might as well try hard and make sure I won't have any regrets at the end. I think that mentality has been the biggest part of my career."

Kim said she has taken some big strides on the mental side of the sport.

"I try not to show that I am nervous on the ice," she added. "And once the music starts, I am usually able to focus really well."

Kim's mother has been designing the skater's costumes throughout her career, and it was no exception in Harbin.

"I have more of an attachment to my costume because my mom designed it," Kim said with a smile.

Kim will have a homecoming next week, when she is scheduled to compete at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Seoul.

"I will have to start training on Saturday," Kim said. "I want to build on this success going forward. If I can continue to make improvements, I should be able to perform even better than I did here." (Yonhap)