Yu-Na Kim has set the skating world on fire. The teenage phenom from the Republic of Korea is being touted as perhaps one of the most talented female skaters the world has ever witnessed.

Her combination of powerful athleticism and graceful artistry are a rare mix.

The gracious young woman who has been making history every step of the way has earned worldwide respect and a legion of fans.

It is a far cry from the reaction to her second-place finish at the 2005 World Junior Championships, which garnered little attention even though the then-14-year-old skater made history by claiming her nation's first international skating medal.

So much has changed in four years.

When Kim wove her magic at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships, she brought the audiences to their feet with her inspired performances. Kim claimed her first global crown in a runaway victory.

Winning the World title was Kim's childhood dream. And on a warm California evening last March, millions of people around the world witnessed that youthful musing morph into reality.

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