Kailani Craine has pulled of an amazing performance in the final of the ladies' single skating free skate at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
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Despite missing out on a medal, the local skater posted her best score of the season.
She received a 57.89 for technical elements during her performance to a Moulin Rouge classic. She scored a 53.95 for presentation and received no deductions, giving her a score of 111.84.
Craine finished the competition on a total of 168.61. While waiting for her results she took the opportunity to wave and blow kisses to her friends, family and fans back home in Australia.
She told reporters after the vent that she was really happy with her Olympics debut.
"I think it went fantastic, to be able to deliver two strong performances was amazing," she said.
“This whole experience has been a dream come true."
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By Josh Callinan
Tricia Burns reckons the cheers out of Hunter Ice Skating Stadium were so loud Kailani Craine would have heard them over in PyeongChang.
It was a proud moment for Burns, Craine’s first figure skating coach, and around 50 other supporters at the Warners Bay venue on Wednesday watching one of their own make a Winter Olympics final.
On debut at the Games the Waratah 19-year-old produced a performance to remember, scoring 56.77 and finishing 16th in the short program to qualify for Friday’s free skate.
“We were in the coffee shop in front of the large screen TV, everybody brought a plate of food and we cheered out little hearts out,” Burns said.
“I’m sure she could hear us in Korea.”
It was like Craine knew and while nervously awaiting the judges’ totals she delivered a “Hello Australia. Hello Hunter” message back home straight down the live-camera barrel.
This was followed by an almost overwhelming sense of emotion when the numbers were finally announced and flashed on screen.
The 30.36 for technical elements and 26.41 for presentation combined to put her in second almost midway through the competition.
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She eventually slipped back 14 spots once all 30 skaters had completed their routines, but comfortably made the top-24 decider.
“I can’t believe that. I’m really proud of myself and that was my goal coming in,” Craine said in a post-event interview.
“When I looked up and saw all the cues I was in second after I finished. Oh my God, I’m so happy. Feelings can’t describe how happy I was. I think you understand because I was crying before.”
Craine’s parents, grandparents and current coach were in the crowd at Gangneung Ice Arena along with fellow Novocastrian Samantha Wells, who finished 17th in the women’s aerial skiing last week. Staff at Craine’s former high school, St Francis Xavier’s College at Hamilton, also tuned in.
She skates ninth in Friday’s final (midday ADST).
Jessica Brown
Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017.
Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017.
