Kim wins women's short program, Gold in 4th, Lipnitskaia falls to 5th

Kim wins short program, Lipnitskaia falls to 5th

SOCHI, Russia (AP) Defending champion Yuna Kim of South Korea won the short program at the Sochi Olympics, and Russia's 15-year-old sensation Julia Lipnitskaia fell.

Kim overcame a serious case of nerves Wednesday to score 74.92 points, edging Russia's other woman, Adelina Sotnikova, whose energetic program rocked the Iceberg and got 74.64. Italy's Carolina Kostner was third with 74.12.

Lipnitskaia, who helped Russia win the team event, fell on a triple flip. She wound up fifth and was too tearful to speak after her worst performance in months.

American champion Gracie Gold was fourth, with countrywomen Ashley Wagner sixth and Polina Edmunds seventh. Japan's Mao Asada had four major mistakes and plummeted to 16th.