Kim Yuna mimed a pistol firing at the end of her Bond Girl routine and with it a warning shot to her rivals that it will be hard to stop her winning Olympic gold in the women's figure skating.

The puff of imaginary smoke was almost visible as the South Korean lived up to her top billing in the women's event with a beguiling short program that earned a record 78.50 points and gave her a comfortable 4.72 lead over Japan's Mao Asada.

You're beautiful, yelled one male fan seconds before the medley of James Bond theme music started up, while plenty of others waved home-made banners declaring Mysterious Bond Girl Yuna to support the Games' highest-earning female athlete.

Wearing a short black off-the-shoulder dress studded with thousands of sparkles, the 19-year-old world champion launched her energetic 007 routine with a trademark opening triple Lutz-triple toeloop combination that had the crowd in raptures.

The rest of her jumps were perfect but it was the whirlwind straight-line step sequence to the Bond signature tune where she lived up to one fan's placard reading License to thrill -- Queen Yuna.

I've been waiting for this for a really long time, Yuna told reporters. I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that this is the Olympics.

Yuna said she had tried not to be distracted by the fact Asada had just skated perfectly. The South Korean was already warming up on the ice when her rival's score of 73.78 flashed up and triggered huge roars of approval from the crowd.

Asada nailed her signature triple Axel-double toeloop combination and had the crowd clapping along during her two step sequences to Khachaturian's dramatic Waltz Masquerade.

Waiting in the kiss and cry area, the Japanese looked nervous as she waited for her score and then wide-eyed and gaping-mouthed when her personal best score came up.

The 19-year-old Asian pair, born 20 days apart, have been rivals since the moment they first laced up their skates and were expected to provide the ultimate showdown in Vancouver.

Usually there is more like a 10-point difference, joked Asada, when asked how she felt about Yuna's lead.

It would be nice to win gold but before I think about that I need to have a perfect free program (on Thursday).

Canada's Joannie Rochette is in third on 71.36 after an emotional performance two days after her mother's sudden death.

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