Yuna Kim

[lappo]

Who the hell do they have if not Yuna???

Literally, someone try to come up with one relevant name who made as big an impact on their sport as Yuna did in her's...someone who did not defect to another country like say, Russia for example.

I was thinking exactly of him...I absolutely didn't know he was a naturalized Russian since 2011, I just discovered now (sorry I'm not into speed skating)...all the better, Yuna would have been way, way better even if he was still a Korean, but this leave them with only one option. Yuna deserves it!

 

[sallycinnamon]

I was thinking exactly of him...I absolutely didn't know he was a naturalized Russian since 2011, I just discovered now (sorry I'm not into speed skating)...all the better, Yuna would have been way, way better even if he was still a Korean, but this leave them with only one option. Yuna deserves it!

He is, and on the side note, without Ahn's three gold medals in Sochi, Russia wouldn't have finished on the top of the medal table.

 

[lappo]

He is, and on the side note, without Ahn's three gold medals in Sochi, Russia wouldn't have finished on the top of the medal table.

I don't know the circumstances that lead him to the decision so I cannot make a clear judgement. Sometimes, there are really circumstances where, as much as you love your country, it doesn't offer you much. I do research at university and as of now I've always been quite lucky to be able to work for my country (I spent two years abroad but I was still payed by it) but I already know that in a year or two the choice will be between leaving my job or going abroad. This is really sad, for me and for all the collegues that are already out. But I can understand that when an athlete (an OGM) defects, is really a major let down for the country!

 

[sallycinnamon]

I don't know the circumstances that lead him to the decision so I cannot make a clear judgement. Sometimes, there are really circumstances where, as much as you love your country, it doesn't offer you much. I do research at university and as of now I've always been quite lucky to be able to work for my country (I spent two years abroad but I was still payed by it) but I already know that in a year or two the choice will be between leaving my job or going abroad. This is really sad, for me and for all the collegues that are already out. But I can understand that when an athlete (an OGM) defects, is really a major let down for the country!

He almost quit the sport in 2006 after serious tensions between the coaches, the KSU and the skaters themselves. He then had a serious injury and couldn't qualify for Vancouver (imagine if he had, he could be 8 or 9 times Olympic champion now ). After that, he made a comeback but he felt that he didn't get enough support from KSU, that's why decided to leave the country.

Anyway he's back again and has just won a silver and bronze and the Europeans, and he is planning to compete in PyeongChang.

Sorry for OT.

 

[skaterr]

I searched the reason why Ahn decided to be naturalized as a Russian. I happened to find his father interview. He pointed out the arbitrary treatment of a high ranking officer in KSU. His name is Jeon Myoung Kyu.. He retired after Ahn having won medals at sochi and been faced the criticism from the public. It also says He and Ahn got along well when Ahn was a student of Korean National Sport Univ. but Ahn refused to go to the graduate school at the same Univ. Their troubles began then. Jeon was a professor of Korean National Sport Univ. until early this year. He is now a Vice president of KSU. He came back strong again. It’s quite interesting.
Ahn was a amazing athlete and a legend. Even this amazing legend could be get into troubles and be left out when he refused to comply with the authority. How about Yuna then….. many fans think Yuna don’t have a smooth relations with KSU but only her fame and the public are protecting her. I think the authority would do anything to bring her down because there is a precedent.

 

[sallycinnamon]

Thanks for the infos, skaterr.

We don't know what made Ahn not go to graduate school or what was behind closed doors, or what is behind closed doors now that Jeon is Vice president of the KSU.
Ahn was already a superstar in his own country with his three Olympic gold medals by the time it all happened. But the field is very deep in Korean's speed skating and he probably didn't feel that he got enough support after his long injury and absence from the Vancouver Olympics. His aim was to come back and compete in Sochi, and he wanted to do anything for that.

I am sure there are constant tensions in KSU, but I think Yuna is the kind of person who doesn't want any troubles, and wants to rise above these things as much as possible. Though I don't know how she survived the immense amount of pressure from both the media and the fed when she returned to competitive skating in 2012. Her nerves are just made of steel.

If Ahn hadn't left Korea I could imagine him and Yuna lighting the torch together. Now, without him, I think Yuna is the No.1. candidate for this role

 

[skaterr]

But the field is very deep in Korean's speed skating and he probably didn't feel that he got enough support after his long injury and absence from the Vancouver Olympics. His aim was to come back and compete in Sochi, and he wanted to do anything for that.

I also searched the reason why he was not chosen as a member of national team. He got a knee injury right before 2008 Torino World. Though he had a knee injury, it was not a big problem for him. There was enough time to recover from his injury before the selection contest for the Korean national squad. Do you know what happened next??? KSU suddenly changed their schedule for the selection contest. That’s why he couldn’t make it to the team.
http://news.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0009433159&code=61121111&cp=nv
http://kin.naver.com/qna/detail.nhn...lssssssKZ-159802&sid=baWUJIwHCgI6n8hMgdjjlQ==

 

[breadstal]

ATS2017 is cancelled :sad4:

 

[yyyskate]

ATS2017 is cancelled :sad4:

do you know who are the sponsors of ATS2017? I heard the sponsors withdrew due to Korean chaotic political situation. I feel for Yuna, very difficult for a small company to survive in figure skating market. But she still needs to cover the cost of many young skaters in her company.... I am worried.

 

[breadstal]

do you know who are the sponsors of ATS2017? I heard the sponsors withdrew due to Korean chaotic political situation. I feel for Yuna, very difficult for a small company to survive in figure skating market. But she still needs to cover the cost of many young skaters in her company.... I am worried.

I think they were all Yuna's sponsors; KB, Maxim, It's Skin, J.Estina etc. They lost big one last year- Samsung. I'm also worried for that tbh :/ I hope everything's ok.

 

[yyyskate]

I think they were all Yuna's sponsors; KB, Maxim, It's Skin, J.Estina etc. They lost big one last year- Samsung. I'm also worried for that tbh :/ I hope everything's ok.

If Yuna come out skate herself, I think she will win more sponsors.

 

[breadstal]

If Yuna come out skate herself, I think she will win more sponsors.

Obviously but she's probably saving herself for Olympics

 

[yyyskate]

Obviously but she's probably saving herself for Olympics

I heard ATS said they has something even better saved for fans.
so I dare to dream that Yuna is gonna perform again in the foreseeable future.
I have my dreams

 

[breadstal]

I heard ATS said they has something even better saved for fans.
so I dare to dream that Yuna is gonna perform again in the foreseeable future.
I have my dreams

Let's hope so

 

[cooper]

Obviously but she's probably saving herself for Olympics

skating to Arirang o Homage to Korea. pleaseeee!

 

[yyyskate]

there is a thread about fan made Yuzuru's world record FP tech analysis (listed all transitions etc.) in the edge on this forum, which reminds me that I promised to do 2 things yet haven't got the time to do it.
first of all, similar tech analysis like Yuzuru's has been made by quite a few knowledgable Chinese fans (and published in different platforms either publicly or in private fan groups). One Chinese fan who's weibo handler frenchrabbit is particular outstanding at this. If you are a long-time Yuna fan you may have heard this name before. This Chinese fan was active for at least a decade now, long before the current boom of all sorts of social media platforms and easily available HD figure skating videos.
He has made a couple of Yuna's program analysis. One of which is "Homage to Korea", which has been brilliantly translated into English by our OS and published in YNKF, so you may have read it thus heard of this fan.
Disclaimer, this fan is not a Yuna fan, he has done figure skating analysis for all disciplines. The programs he has done for Yuna are the one he really likes and of significant values. such as "Homage to Korea" and another one is Yuna's last dance "Adios Nonino" (possibly his favorite program from Yuna based on his writing). He also has written tech analysis about Yuna's "Send in the clowns", "lark ascending" maybe some other programs as well(I didnot read all his work), but two of his most famous work about Yuna among Chinese skating fans are "Homage to Korea" and especially "Adios Nonino".
During Sochi scandal, he has promised to write tech analysis for top ladies, like many of other knowledgeable yet deeply offended figure skating fans world-wide did at the time. He gave his opinion/analysis about stsq right away (Yuna's FS stsq is the best of the night ,should be a very deserving +3 lv4, yet Sot's stsq, its design itself has tech criteria limitation, at most should only get lv3, regardless execution quality, and her execution is very unclear to say the least).
yet her finalized tech analysis (including video version like the one Yuzuru fans made) only come out 2 years later. I must say, it is really a very difficult and time consuming work to do tech analysis likes this, months maybe years. Only shows the said person's passion of figure skating (even the fans who is willing to read such analysis shows dedication). And he saved his last Sochi lady's skating series to Yuna's "Adios Nonino".Of course, his opinion is only his, I also do not always agree with him. but I consider he is an indeed very knowledge figure skating fan (much more than regular skating fans).
So, here is my promises that I did not fulfill, I promised I will attempt to translate his analysis of Adios Nonino. I also promised that I will elaborate about Sot's spins level issue (also based on his tech analysis).

 

[yyyskate]

frenchrabbit's video analysis of Yuna's Adios Nonino
http://www.bilibili.com/video/av6536551/
I think this link most people can watch without problem. analysis all in Chinese.

 

[yyyskate]

My attempted translation, I started to translate when I promised to do so months ago. but I give up middle way through. because I got really busy, also, it is so hard to translate PCS analysis. PCS is artistic and subjective as we all know, yet frenchrabbit's PCS analysis is not just personal artistry preference, yet is both closely aligned with PCS components judgement criteria and in depth artistry explanation (involves knowledge in dance, music and culture) and it is in Chinese. which is a language I considered extremely sophisticated, difficult to translate properly its essence, nuance and subtly. Although, PCS is subjective and inevitably personal, due to the reason I mentioned above, I still think it is worth translating and reading.

 

[yyyskate]

Now I will put my translation little by little (hopefully I can finish this project), I do not 100% agree with frenchrabbit at times. also I may put in some of my own analysis/research and will mark my stuff in different color.

Yuna Kim Sochi OG free skating analysis

In olympic season, Yuna brought her ultimate sincerity, presented a choreographically sophisticated and artistically supreme divine free program. Although base value did not have advantage, but in aspects of skating patterns, transitions, and dance etc perspectives, She brought her A game. Such a devoted fine program, plus Yuna’s touching interpretation, its impression will linger forever in ours heart. (well written intro)

I decided to finished my translation or at least big chunk of it and post all together, so that is wont be interspersed everywhere in this fan thread.

 

[yyyskate]

okay, I am still gonna post it little by little. and tag it as Yuna FS analysis, if you need to post anything, just go ahead and post it. don't worry about the continuity of my translation.

this part is TES analysis, listed all moves not only tech element buts also included in-between steps, turns, upper/whole body dance etc. from start to the end of this program.

counter clock wise (frenchrabbit emphasizes the direction of all sorts of turns in his analysis since multiple direction varieties as well as balanced directions is very import criteria in judging skating and PCS. Also Yuna and real great skaters in general, excels at that) dance spin that accompanied with head and arm dance gesture. (every one of these dance/transition moves in Yuna’s adios nonino has conterparts/style in Argentina Tango, One unique feature of Yuna’s transition is that it is always accompanied by upperbody/wholebody movement with purpose and style to her chosen music/theme, not only just a figure skating turn or step).
bunny hop + free leg dragging move and arm details matches music.
counter clockwise Mohawk accompanied by arm dance move.
counter clock turn of body + clock wise backward cross over (he did not mention the preparation steps into Yuna’s opening combo since those are easy steps, however, every one of these steps including cross over and pumping steps are choreographically designed and performed to the music notes and phrasing, since steps like cross-over and 3 turns etc. are relatively easy steps but if it is used to serve the music purpose like here in Yuna’s Adios Nonino before opening combo not just purely preparation of jumps, should be considered meaningful transitions, this is from ISU transition educational video)
3LZ + 3T
like SP, it is a well-balanced jump in all aspects, not only technique textbook, but also very effortless and smooth. judging from the video, its height and distance is even better than SP. Also matched the emotional release of opening music phrasing excellently, undisputedly should be awarded +2 or +3 GOE.(also, jump revolution in air matching piano note, this is the first time I saw a jumping pass matching music in this way. innovative! please notice the various ways of how Yuna’s jumping pass matches music in this program, not just the usual landing on a heavy note, jump matching music structure is just one jump GOE bullet, the extra effort Yuna and team put into her programs, don’t know how many points should justify that, nevertheless, it undoubtedly shows skaters’ ability and sincerity, Yuna is known to jump to the music and she maximized it to the extreme in her adios nonino, one reason why this program is special).