Just read this interesting article, I don't know whether this is the right place to post, feel free to move it if moderators have other idea.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/wo...ef=global-home
I am so happy for Yuna's achievement after all those years' hardwork. And it's interesting that the article quoted Yuna said: “I wouldn’t let my daughter take up figure skating,” she said, when asked whether she would follow her own mother’s path. “I know how hard this life is.”
After reading that article, I don't know whether I feel more sorry for YuNa or for her sister. One is pressured constantly to succeed for her mother's honor, and the other is told her goals are unimportant and only her sister matters. Really sad.
Yes I feel sorry for her sister, and her dad too. In a way, the whole family has sacrificed a lot in order to focus all energy and resource to help Yuna's skating career. I wonder whether that's common in families with kids skating. I do think for every successful skater like Yuna, there must be thousands of young skaters who didn't end up successful in skating due to many reasons, and in lots of cases has nothing to do with the talent, but resource.
I feel bad that Yu-na's fathers financial contribution is rarely mentioned. And I truly don't understand why the mother couldn't have someone else go to the match and attend the other daughter's graduation. Her other daughter is still fairly young enough though to somewhat pursue singing. Why not donate some of the financial resources to that now if the girl desires. Surely she's owed that.
I wasn't even aware that Yu-Na had a sister... But really, I don't like the tone of this article or the way it portrays Yu-Na's family. I don't deny the amount of sacrifice they've made for her skating career. I have no way of knowing how it really is with them, if the dad and sister really are neglected that way, but the article certainly is not a tribute to Asian culture, to say the least.
Last edited by LeCygne; 06-10-2009 at 04:44 PM.
Thank you for posting, that was a very poignant article about how much sacrifice goes into producing a skater, even one as talented as Yu-Na. And I don't think that this is exactly uncommon among skating families, Asian or not--I remember reading about how both the Kwans and the Lipinskis had to split up their families to facilitate training. Tara and her mother, for example, lived in Detroit while Tara's father stayed in Texas.
That is the scary part. Kim is successful now, a millionaire, famous in her homecountry. But all those kids who don't manage to achieve what she achieved? I remember there was one article on Kim in 2004 or 2005 where she said that she hates skating. In the end everything payed off, all the hard work. But imagine if it hadn't payed off? Imagine the tension between all family members (there might be tension anyway) if they sacrifice everything for a little girl's career - and it doesn't pay off?Originally Posted by gocaroline
Lang Lang also gave interesting interviews, that portray something similar. Here is an article about how he spent his childhood.
When finally rejected by that teacher—on a dreadful day when they bicycled through rain mixed with sand that had blown in from the Gobi Desert—his father ordered Lang Lang to jump off the balcony or take an overdose of pills. Instead, Lang Lang tried to destroy his hands by punching walls, screaming, “I hate my hands. I hate you. I hate the piano.” Though restrained by his father, he refused to touch the piano for weeks.
An off topic question, but why is it that dads are seemingly more involved when it comes to golf and similarly, moms with skating? I'm not saying that's the case everywhere, but we often hear "golf dads" and "skating moms" more often than the opposites.
[QUOTE=Medusa;399820]. But imagine if it hadn't payed off? Imagine the tension between all family members (there might be tension anyway) if they sacrifice everything for a little girl's career - and it doesn't pay off?
QUOTE]
Good points. I would go with the "there might be tension anyway" thought but I think many families are filled with tension for any number of reasons.
I find this excerpt uncomfortable reading but it also sounds pretty honest. And we are not reading the whole book. There may be many wonderful moments filled with love, puppies, frisbees, and marching bands for all we know.
I know this is about Yuna, or a mother's drive and ambition to create "Yuna the skating champion" " but unfortunately many other skaters and their families have made great sacrifices too. It seems to go with the territiory and be part of the sport.
I think their are cultural differences to consider and as much as I admire Yuna I don't see myself becoming a fan of her mom anytime soon. The excerpt makes her sound so one dimensional and selfish.
while I know many cases of successful skaters's families been through a lot to achieve their ultimate goals of their children, this article is sad, i dont know about who i feel bad more, yuna or her sister. Mum is like most mums but..
Strangely all this pressure must be on her but I dont see it at Yuna when she skates
When she skates she forgets .while I know many cases of successful skaters's families been through a lot to achieve their ultimate goals of their children, this article is sad, i dont know about who i feel bad more, yuna or her sister. Mum is like most mums but..
Strangely all this pressure must be on her but I dont see it at Yuna when she skates
Yu-Na's mom is selfish?Why don't you try raising a daughter who happens to be one of the most popular figures in your country. Let's see how your family turns out. Geez! Give her a break. I'm sure Yu-Na's sister missed having her mom and sister around, but from what I've heard, her sister is doing just fine now. I asked this question at YKF and IIRC, she's a nurse.
AFAIK, skaters' families make so much sacrifice regardless of nationality. I don't like how this article made it seem like it is a phenomenon unique to Asian culture. I feel bad for Yuna's sister, but I'd say half the population have issues with overshadowing siblings. Stage moms are everywhere. Hello soccer mom?
Yu-Na's mom is selfish?
What do you mean "give her a break?" I thought my reply was considerate enough and recognized that other skating families have made similar sacrifices.
I am not Korean - but felt compelled to point out that there are cultural differences to consider.
If you want me to say how nice it is for a mom to ignore one of her children while she was fanatically pursuing her own dream through the other child - then you will have a long wait. I am glad to hear Yuna's sister, a child basically abandoned by her own mother is doing better now.
And while we are at it - give me a break OK.
Last edited by janetfan; 06-10-2009 at 08:25 PM.
I just found this article (http://english.donga.com/srv/service...h_dir=20040211) from 2004 and I think I better understand why Yu-Na felt that way when she was younger--the pressure must have been crushing.
“What do I really want to do? I want to hang out with my friends. What don’t I like to do? My mom would scold me if I say this. Frankly, I hate skating. It’s so tiresome. I’m sick of it.”
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