Yu-Na Kim: Twenty Percent to Perfection | Golden Skate

Yu-Na Kim: Twenty Percent to Perfection

gsk8

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Country
United-States
South Korean figure skater Yu-Na Kim set another new world record last week at Trophée Eric Bompard (TEB) with her Long Program to Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F. "I was stunned watching it (the score)," said Kim. "I didn't think about renewing my personal best again here...More
 

ehdtkqorl123

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 6, 2009
South Korean figure skater Yu-Na Kim set another new world record last week at Trophée Eric Bompard (TEB) with her Long Program to Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F. "I was stunned watching it (the score)," said Kim. "I didn't think about renewing my personal best again here...More

Wow, thank you for a nice article! I am excited to see the rest 20% this season. Good luck, Yu-Na!
 

jaws12345

Match Penalty
Joined
Apr 9, 2009
South Korean figure skater Yu-Na Kim set another new world record last week at Trophée Eric Bompard (TEB) with her Long Program to Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F. "I was stunned watching it (the score)," said Kim. "I didn't think about renewing my personal best again here...More

Great interview. :agree: Thanks.
 

Nadine

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 3, 2003
What I don't understand is why doesn't she work on a 3A? Seriously, she's got the best jumps out there ~ height, distance, rotation, speed, et al, perfect ~ so why not even take it one further: the 3A? She could easily do it. All her triples are fabulous, especially her 3/3 combos.!!!!!!:love::bow::love:

I hope to God she doesn't quit after the Olympics, but rather stays on for another 4 yrs. like Katarina Witt did. This lady is too special to just retire. Stay on & match Michelle Kwan's numerous World Titles & then go one further & match Katarina Witt. Become the Sonja Henie of this era.

She has it all ~ she's the ONE the skating world has been waiting for ~ Nicole Bobek/Sasha Cohen/Oksana Baiul/Michelle Kwan/Irina Slutskaya/Tonya Harding/Midori Ito/all the greats throughout figure skating history combined into O-N-E!!!!!!!:bow::bow::bow::bow:
 

jaws12345

Match Penalty
Joined
Apr 9, 2009
What I don't understand is why doesn't she work on a 3A? Seriously, she's got the best jumps out there ~ height, distance, rotation, speed, et al, perfect ~ so why not even take it one further: the 3A? She could easily do it. All her triples are fabulous, especially her 3/3 combos.!!!!!!:love::bow::love:

I hope to God she doesn't quit after the Olympics, but rather stays on for another 4 yrs. like Katarina Witt did. This lady is too special to just retire. Stay on & match Michelle Kwan's numerous World Titles & then go one further & match Katarina Witt. Become the Sonja Henie of this era.

She has it all ~ she's the ONE the skating world has been waiting for ~ Nicole Bobek/Sasha Cohen/Oksana Baiul/Michelle Kwan/Irina Slutskaya/Tonya Harding/Midori Ito/all the greats throughout figure skating history combined into O-N-E!!!!!!!:bow::bow::bow::bow:

In one of her recent interviews after TEB she suggested that she might compete in 2010 Worlds. At least the Olys might not be the last event to see her in competition.
 

Nadine

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 3, 2003
That would honestly be a shame because it's obvious she hasn't maxed out her jumping potential at all. She makes those 3/3 combos. look like child's play & she doesn't even break a sweat. Just think what more she could accomplish, so much more. I hope/pray that she stays in for the long term. Maybe take time off after Olympics & Worlds, rest her body, do tours like Sasha Cohen did, and then come back for 2014. :love:
 

bekalc

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
That would honestly be a shame because it's obvious she hasn't maxed out her jumping potential at all. She makes those 3/3 combos. look like child's play & she doesn't even break a sweat. Just think what more she could accomplish, so much more. I hope/pray that she stays in for the long term. Maybe take time off after Olympics & Worlds, rest her body, do tours like Sasha Cohen did, and then come back for 2014. :love:

Well, I think part of it is family issues. I know her father said in an recent interview that it's up to Yu-na but that he hopes she retires so she can have a more normal life and their family can be reunited.... Her father feeling that way I think is a big draw in the whole retirement thing.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if she retires, realizes she misses it and comes back. As for the 3-axel, I remember someone saying a couple of years back while she was a junior that the forward take off on the 3axel scares Yu-na. Also when she started training the 3axel with Orser, in the beginning of her senior year, injury problems started happening. Combine that with her back, and I think that Yu-na is afraid training such a difficult jump could lead to injury.

Maybe if she wins the Olympics, she might decide that she has nothing to lose and then why not learn a harder jump... Because then she'll have a lot less to lose. But at this point, she's not willing to risk everything she worked for, for a jump she doesn't necessarily need. Frankly a quadtoe might be something she could realistically work on too. Her triple toe technique is just so good. However, the issue there becomes what if it throws off her timing and hurts her 3/3s.
 

janetfan

Match Penalty
Joined
May 15, 2009
Thanks for posting the article. Skaters like Yuna only come around once a decade, if that often.
She is Michelle's favorite of the current generation of skaters and many other leading voices from the skating world as well.

Her story is one of struggle and overcoming great odds to become the first great figure skater from her country. Just as a young Yuna was inspired by Michelle I know there is already a future generation of young skaters watching Yuna and being inspired not only by her beautiful skating but also by the strength of her character, her humility and her generosity.

I wish her continued success and expect to see the additional "20%" in Vancouver. What a moment that will be for Yuna and for figure skating fans all over the world.
 
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prettykeys

Medalist
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
As I'm preparing, I build momentum and confidence until I reach a peak of concentration. It is the moment that I feel my best.
Oooooh, she's talking about the zone.

Ah, come Olympics, I hope her nerves won't be too shaken!

and bekalc, your logic is impeccable.
 

Ptolemy

Rinkside
Joined
Apr 10, 2009
Wow, what a story. It is wonderful when athletes and celebrities care about others and make an effort to help.
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Thanks for the interview. After reading this, one instantly gets the feeling that she is not invincible like everyone might think. She admits to anxiety and nerves...it will only intensify once the Games approach. Will be interesting to see if she can hold it together or not. Come to think of it I really don't think we've seen Kim perform under real pressure...
 

jaws12345

Match Penalty
Joined
Apr 9, 2009
Maybe if she wins the Olympics, she might decide that she has nothing to lose and then why not learn a harder jump... Because then she'll have a lot less to lose. But at this point, she's not willing to risk everything she worked for, for a jump she doesn't necessarily need. Frankly a quadtoe might be something she could realistically work on too. Her triple toe technique is just so good. However, the issue there becomes what if it throws off her timing and hurts her 3/3s.

Like everything in our lives, learning these jumps comes with benefits and costs. IMHO, in this case, the increased possibility of injury during training for these jumps and resulting shortened career outweighs way far the potential benefit, which I don't think there is any. The difficulty and the quality of her 3Lz-3T is already maximum one can hope to see in ladies' jumps.

Even if she decides to learn the jumps, she will have to sacrifice some of her programs' artistic touch because maintaining the jumping skills requires so much attention and time. Asada this season and Joubert, Plushenko with their quad may be good examples. I would much rather watch an all-around Yu-Na than a 3A Yu-Na with less focus on artistic side.
 
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R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
For Kim, that status quo works. From her view: Why fix something that ain't broke?
 

cosmos

On the Ice
Joined
Oct 2, 2007
even if she decides to learn the jumps, she will have to sacrifice some of her programs' artistic touch because maintaining the jumping skills requires so much attention and time. Asada this season and joubert, plushenko with their quad may be good examples. I would much rather watch an all-around yu-na than a 3a yu-na with less focus on artistic side.

ita.
 

bekalc

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Come to think of it I really don't think we've seen Kim perform under real pressure...
Kim looked really stressed out at GPF last year. The girl has been under huge amounts of pressure her entire Senior career. And she had huge expectations when she was healthy at 2009 Worlds.

I'm sure they all feel anxiety and nerves. Its just who can figure out ways to channel their anxiety and nerves correctly.
 
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Ptolemy

Rinkside
Joined
Apr 10, 2009
I agree. I think Yu Na has been under pressure throughout her career. Her only senior skate in Korea - last years GPF was the only time the pressure has hurt her performance. I think Brian Orser is good for her in that area. The Olympics will be tough but my guess is that she will handle it.
 
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