How it unfolded
South Korea's Yuna Kim and Japan's Mao Asada had traded titles at Worlds and on the Grand Prix circuit since the late 2000s, forming women's singles' greatest rivalry. In the Vancouver final, Kim set a world record of 78.50 in the short program, then delivered a nearly flawless free skate to break her own world record again with a total of 228.56. Asada countered with an ambitious layout rarely attempted by women, including two triple Axels, but finished with 205.50, more than 23 points behind. That margin remains the largest winning margin in Olympic women's singles since the current scoring system was introduced. Kim had never missed the podium at a senior international competition before this event.
Why it still matters
This final proved that a skater from a country with almost no skating infrastructure could reach the world's highest level, and it triggered a nationwide boom in rink construction and youth registration in South Korea afterward. The margin of more than 23 points has been frequently cited since as a benchmark for a dominant win, and the two skaters' rivalry remains one of the most famous contests in women's singles history.