new article about Yuna and her mom

[Wrlmy]

Thank you Medusa. Yuna's interview from 5 years ago actually makes me see how far she has come in terms of almost everything. She has showcased something she couldn't do without love for the sport, and the fact that she said she hated skating years ago doesn't negate that.

[szidon]

Nobody is sneering.

But I have to ask: why are people getting so defensive? If the unhappy childhood was to be the truth, would it somehow destroy your image of Kim? There are millions of unhappy children all over the world, and yes, some of them unhappy because they are / were raised by overambitious parents who to some point try to realise their own dreams of fame through their children. And I bet that there are a whole lot of figure skaters, dancers and other athletes who probably think that they had miserable childhoods.

Slutskaya was mentioned in this thread, that she hated skating for a long time. Does it make her skating less enjoyable, her achievements less valueable?

I am not saying that the article is completely right, or that Kim had an unhappy childhood - I don't know nearly enough about her and her family to judge that. But what's with all the people insisting that everything was peachy, that the mother was selfless and always loving, that Kim only had minor teenage issues concerning discipline...? It's like you are desperately trying to hang on to the image of a pure wholesome girl, a child prodigy, matured beyond her years, good and well-behaved, never complaining, dutiful, loving parents and family, always striving to become a better person and skater. I actually prefer to see real people.

Did I say Yu-na was a perfect child? Never!
I just pointed out translation of the article was not that correct.

I'm rather curious to know why some people don't want to know more about detailed facts and even try to prohibit from correcting the errors althought all the information they know came from 1~2 articles.

[cosmos]

Nobody is sneering.

But I have to ask: why are people getting so defensive? If the unhappy childhood was to be the truth, would it somehow destroy your image of Kim? There are millions of unhappy children all over the world, and yes, some of them unhappy because they are / were raised by overambitious parents who to some point try to realise their own dreams of fame through their children. And I bet that there are a whole lot of figure skaters, dancers and other athletes who probably think that they had miserable childhoods..

I am sure I know far more than you about YuNa. But, I never know how happy or unhappy shw was. She never said she was unhappy. However, Her 'unhappy childhood' is so easily spoken here. It is not right and fair. Sure, she said she hated skating practice (I wonder who would like daily skating practice, though.). That doesn't necessarily mean she was unhappy. (Maybe, your unhappy and my unhappy have different meanings). Most Korean kids are pushed by moms to study something. Are all Korean kids unhappy? Maybe, compared to kids in US or Germany. But, as I said earlier, her sakting pracrice didn't make her unhappier than other Korean kids. I am almost sure about that. I think the family's financial status (and injuries in later years) caused more unhappiness, but that is just my thought.

I am not saying that the article is completely right, or that Kim had an unhappy childhood - I don't know nearly enough about her and her family to judge that. But what's with all the people insisting that everything was peachy, that the mother was selfless and always loving, that Kim only had minor teenage issues concerning discipline...? It's like you are desperately trying to hang on to the image of a pure wholesome girl, a child prodigy, matured beyond her years, good and well-behaved, never complaining, dutiful, loving parents and family, always striving to become a better person and skater. I actually prefer to see real people.

Real YuNa's childhood was probably somewhere between the two ends. She wasn't perfect, definitely not. But, she wasn't a unhappy and miserable kid, either.

Naturally, her mom didn't write the book to be criticized. She would be embarrased by the reaction here. In reality, she was never criticized but only praised in Korea. She is particularly praised because she raised YuNa to a great skater with practically no help from the system.

[janetfan]

Here is something from the Korea Times :

Skating Moms vs. Hockey Moms

How do skating moms compare with hockey moms?
Based on Park's experience, skating moms are a little more focused, tougher and goal oriented than hockey moms.
In a joint news conference after her winning the 2009 world championship at the Staples Center, Yu-na said that she would probably not encourage her daughter, if she has one in the future, to be a skater even if she's talented enough.
``I wouldn't do it because being a figure skater is a hard slog and I don't want my daughter, if I ever have one, to become a skater,'' she said.

When it came to expertise in figure skating, Park said she is as knowledgeable as professional figure skaters, saying she ``majored'' in Yu-na and she is her textbook."

Park's remark was construed as her complete understanding of her daughter's physical and psychological conditions in detail and even the small, minor effect of Yu-na's necklace on her performance on ice.

Prof. Jackson said stereotypical skating moms like Yu-na's mother are noteworthy for their single-minded devotion to their children's success.
``Korea already has a strong tradition of mothers actively participating in their children's lives to a degree that many Americans would find obsessive. The skating mom is just a few steps beyond that,'' he said.



After a quick read this sounds neither negative or positive to me.
I would think of cultural differences rather than thinking Yuna's mother is some sort of tyrant. If she seems obsessed with her daughter - it is a mother's right to raise her kid the way she thinks is best. If Yuna says she wouldn't want her own daughter to become a figure skater there could be several reasons for her thinking, but I would tend to believe Yuna's own words.
Everyone is free to their own interpretations.

Here is a link to the entire article:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news...180_42665.html

[life684]

Is there no Mao and Her mom article even better add dad to it. There are so many Yu na said that yu na did this post in the forum.

[janetfan]

Is there no Mao and Her mom article even better add dad to it. There are so many Yu na said that yu na did this post in the forum.

Here is an article about Mao and her mother. It says the mother originally wanted Mao and Mai to be ballerinas but when Mao wanted to switch to figure skating the mother supported her decision. A few other facts, Mao's mother was a gymnast and her father a skier - so the family has a background in sports. Here is the link.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...0060326a2.html

[Spun Silver]

FWIW, this happens in ballet here (in the USA). Here's an excerpt from a customer review of a book on the ballet world:

Gordon talks about the invisible partner, that of the ballet mother and how these women give up a normal life to give total support to the dancing child. She writes about the bitter rivalries between ballet mothers, which only increases their isolation and loneliness; it's not surprising these women become totally absorbed and obssessed with their children's success in dancing.

http://www.amazon.com/Off-Balance-Re.../dp/0070237700

The writer seems to have a negative take on these obsessive women. But IIRC the US dance critic Arlene Croce once wrote in praise of ballet mothers, without whom there would be no ballerinas. (Unfortunately I can't find that reference.)

[Mathman]

Yu-na said that she would probably not encourage her daughter, if she has one in the future, to be a skater even if she's talented enough.

"I wouldn't do it because being a figure skater is a hard slog and I don't want my daughter, if I ever have one, to become a skater,'' she said.

It will be interesting to see if she changes her mind when she becomes a mother.

Gordon talks about the invisible partner, that of the ballet mother and how these women give up a normal life to give total support to the dancing child. She writes about the bitter rivalries between ballet mothers,...

I think cheerleader mothers win the prize. Like the lady in Texas who hired a hit man to murder the mother of her daughter's competitor for a position on the cheer leading team..

Her defense at the trial was, she hoped that the other girl would be so distraught at losing her mother that she would withdraw from the compettion.

[janetfan]

I think cheerleader mothers win the prize. Like the lady in Texas who hired a hit man to murder the mother of her daughter's competitor for a position on the cheer leading team..
Her defense at the trial was, she hoped that the other girl would be so distraught at losing her mother that she would withdraw from the compettion.

But you are portraying a biased opinion of that mother. Aside from that one little "incident," I heard they were a happy and well adjusted family. Plus there are cultural differences to consider. We are talking about Texas, right?
Last I heard the daughter of the convicted mother plans to raise her daughter as a cheerleader, and in keeping with the family tradition she is keeping her six shooter well oiled.

[Daniel5555]

Medusa

But what's with all the people insisting that everything was peachy, that the mother was selfless and always loving, that Kim only had minor teenage issues concerning discipline...? It's like you are desperately trying to hang on to the image of a pure wholesome girl, a child prodigy, matured beyond her years, good and well-behaved, never complaining, dutiful, loving parents and family, always striving to become a better person and skater. I actually prefer to see real people.

I perfectly understand you, but it's just about the facts. We just want to provide correct information while we can. Of course, we can't know everything for sure...
And of course Yuna is not perfect, neither her family is... Actually I never stated she/her family is perfect

cosmos

She never said she was unhappy. However, Her 'unhappy childhood' is so easily spoken here. It is not right and fair.

This is just one of the topics of the press. Someone famous just has to have unhappy childhood, because this is more interesting. But that is not necessary true.

[jyshin]

I've been wondering if anyone has yet to relate Yuna's situation to the Lipinskis.
The following is a quote from the 1994 New York Times article "FIGURE SKATING; Prodigy's Dream Has a Price (link)" about Tara Lipinski.

During training, Pat Lipinski is a strict parent, driving her daughter, communicating with hand signals. One drill requires Tara to land each of her jumps five times in succession. If she misses a jump, she must start again until she gets it right, like a basketball player who must hit consecutive free throws at the end of practice.

I don't think the real issue of this thread is about Yuna's mom or Korean culture, but about having a super talented child in an area that requires early discipline.

[Joesitz]

It would be nice if posters would give the source of quotes and stories.

[jyshin]

"FIGURE SKATING; Prodigy's Dream Has a Price"
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/11/sp...pagewanted=all

[janetfan]

I don't think the real issue of this thread is about Yuna's mom or Korean culture, but about having a super talented child in an area that requires early discipline.

Yes, that is a good point. I have read many articles about China's notorious "ping-pong" mothers. And let's not forget how tough England's "polo mums" are supposed to be. There is a well documented case about one child in particular who has been forced to keep the same title "Prince of Wales" for thirty years due to his lacklustre play. Such unimaginable cruelty! But the worst of all are the infamous "Sumo mothers" of Japan who have been known to force feed a child who shows a talent for gluttony at an early age while often depriving his siblings of a balanced diet. But fatness, like greatness demands sacrifice.
Several years ago, in an effort to produce male skaters with a bigger ice presense the Japanese Skating Federation tried to teach a few Sumo wrestlers how to skate. Several Western experts were invited to evaluate the potential of these skating sumos. Among them was Sonia Bianchetti. She later reported this experiment was a total disaster and a waste of her time. However,she never forgot the impression these skating sumos made on her - particularly there futile attempts at landing fully rotated quads. Witnessing this spectacle served as the inspiration for her well known book, "Cracked Ice."

[Wrlmy]

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