Kim Yu-na, a heavy favorite for the gold medal in ladies' figure skating at the upcoming Vancouver Olympic Games, has been named one of 11 "Olympic Athletes to Watch" by Time magazine.

Others on the list, released on Time's website last Friday, include alpine skier Lindsey Vonn and half pipe snowboarder Shaun White, both of the U.S.

"Taekwondo, archery, short track -- these are the niche sports in which Korea tends to dominate," Time wrote. "But a bright-light event such as figure skating? You bet, ever since Kim, 19, began racking up championships and setting records with the highest-scoring performances, quietly making her case to be the Olympic gold-medal favorite."

Kim Yu-na

Kim's chief rival Mao Asada of Japan also made it on the list, although the magazine predicted a tough challenge for her. "With Kim known to be one of the most consistent skaters in the sport, a golden repeat for Japan may slip past Asada."