In what can only be called a pinnacle of athletic achievement, Kim Yu-Na somehow found a way to shrug off the immense pressure mounted on her and set a new standard for figure skating perfection.
Kim Yu-Na finally lets out her emotions after a sublime performance in Vancouver.
- There is always a gold medal winner in the figure skating arena of the Olympic Games, but it is often a contest of the fewest mistakes or the best of the night. Rarely is the evening filled with personal bests and spectacular performances from so many. Mao Asada delivered an electric performance and nailed her triple axels, the most difficult of women’s jumps. Even as Kim’s competitors skated as well as could have reasonably been imagined, none of them had the remotest chance of winning. This is her crowning achievement, the reason why she is the Queen and why Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times says that she is the face of these Olympic games. “Not Lindsey Vonn, not Apolo Ohno, not Bode Miller. Kim Yu-na.”
Here are some great nuggets of little known facts about Queen Yu-Na:
1. In a speed skating-mad country Kim trained either early in the morning or late at night because it was the only time the ice was available.
2. Yu-Na is correctly pronounced “yeo-na” or “yuh-na”, not “yoo-na”
3. Brian Orser never coached before taking on Kim and initially declined the request from Kim’s mother.
4. Not speaking a word of English, Kim first learned from Orser through his demonstrations.
5. Friends since their early days of competitive skating, Kim and Asada are both 19, both 5′4″, both born in September, and both huge celebrities in their home countries. Watch a great video montage of their friendly but intense rivalry.
6. Unable to concentrate in Korea where she needs bodyguards to keep her safe from mobs of fans, she found a peaceful training haven at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club where initiation fees are $18,000.
7. The free skate of the Vancouver Olympics was the first time Kim ever cried after a performance.
8. Under enormous financial strain after Kim’s father’s business collapsed in the late 90s, Kim’s parents decided to quit her expensive training. After watching her land five triples in what was to be her last competition, they instead put up their house as collateral to continue funding Kim’s career.
Proud parents watch their daughter Kim Yu-Na win gold at the Olympic Games in Vancouver.
9. International Skating Union (ISU) President Ottavio Cinquanta of Italy put intense pressure on Kim to compete at the Four Continents Championship which took place two months before the Olympics. Wanting to focus on Vancouver, she declined with the support of the Korean Skating Union.
10. Kim Yu-Na’s last name in Korean literally means “gold”.
Bonus: Kim’s fabulous diamond crown earrings have made jeweler J. Estina a killing!
In her single minded quest for excellence, Kim Yu-Na showed so much courage in the face of unimaginable pressure. At the same time, she managed to maintain a humility and grace that melted hearts around the world. Whatever she does from this point forward, I hope that her fans will give her the breathing room she deserves and award her what may be her next big dream: the prize of a semi-normal life.
