Kim Chae-yeon thrills home crowd to win Four Continents women's event, preventing U.S. sweep

Local favourite Kim Chae-yeon of South Korea won the Four Continents figure skating competition with a near-flawless free skate on Sunday to prevent an American sweep of the podium in Seoul.

Kim, who led after the short program, produced a season's best score of 148.36 in the free skate to finish with a total of 222.38 points.

Bradie Tennell of the United States also had a season-best free skate with 137.80 points and was second with a score of 204.38.

American Sarah Everhardt was third with 200.03 points, edging out compatriot Alysa Lu who was fourth with 198.55.

WATCH l Kim captures Four Continents title:

Korea's Kim Chae-yeon delights fans with Four Continents win on home ice

Madeline Schizas and Sara-Maude Dupuis placed 11-12 (116.77-116.01 in the free skate) to lead Canada in the field of 21, followed by Katherine Medland Spence in 14th (103.93).

Skating to Whisperers from the Heart and Love Dance, Kim was the last skater to take to the ice. She started her routine with a double axel and then added six clean triple jumps to bring the hometown crowd to its feet.

"I was a little nervous because I wanted to show my best for the home crowd and I am glad I was able to do that," Kim said.

She becomes only the third South Korean skater to win the Four Continents title following Lee Hae-in in 2023 and Yuna Kim in 2009.

Defending champion Mone Chiba, who was second after the short program, struggled with her free skate and dropped down to sixth place with a total of 195.08.

The 19-year-old Japanese skater started off well with a triple flip, triple toeloop combination but fell on her triple salchow and on the triple flip.

Skating to "Nessun Dorma," Tennell, who is coming off an ankle injury, opened with a triple lutz,