Yuna Kim
It's too shocking to hear the tragic news of Dennis Tenn, and I still cannot believe it's true. Dennis was a very sincere and loving figure skater. It is so sad that I lost the most passionate and talented skater. Rest in peace.
데니스 텐의 비극적인 소식을 들어 너무 충격적이고 아직 사실이라는게 믿겨지지 않네요. 데니스는 정말 성실하고 피겨스케이팅을 너무 사랑했던 선수였습니다. 가장 열정적이고 훌륭한 스케이터를 잃어 너무나 슬픕니다. 고인의 명복을 빕니다.
During 2010 when Yuna had her ATS all-star show in LA with Michelle Kwan at the time, Denis was just a member of the audience, as a young promising budding skater begin to train with Frank Caroll at the time. He had been invited to the show by Stephen Lambiel who is a member of the cast. I remembered him clearly because he and his boybands of trendy good looking youngsters really stand out with their rip jeans, chains and hair highlights at a figure skating show (yup Denis had that phase), and he only sat 2 rows in front of me so it is impossible not to notice. I remember being quite taken by how enthusiastic he was reacting to all the performances like any other member of the star-struck audience in the crowd, standing ovations, enthusiastic applauses, hollering and all. Something immediately stood out, He sure doesn't act like a star, even though he clearly is one, and there's something very warm and genuine about him (totally not a jaded teenager star I'd expect from LA) that I was even lucky to able to briefly chat to him after the show outside in the corridor to let him know I recognise him, that I like his Rachmaninov, and wish him best of luck in his future career. I remember asking him how he likes the show (he said he loved it and thanked Lambiel for the seats), he was clearly inspired, and I remember his sparkly eyes and good manners talking about figure skating and the future in general.
A few years on, he became a member of Yuna's show cast, her gala chaperone at Sochi (OBM), even signed up with her agency (the only international star to have done so I believe) and continues to be an active and supportive member to some of my favourite skaters in the figure skating community. He became a role model to many, a bridge between Europe/Russia, Asia, North America so easily and seamlessly, a responsible citizen of the world that is a wonderful spokesperson for the sport as seen during his country's Olympic bid.
He is a figure skater I will always have fond memories because of how he had lived, aspire to, and continues to struggle. Never forgetting to balance figure skating as both art and sport. Never compromise on the art even if it might not always work, or understood. To have the bravery, courage, intellectual curiosity, vigour, and conviction to not take the easy way out, to go beyond the COP parameter is something I will always treasure, that cannot be measured and simply priceless. Sadly, series of consecutive injuries plagued his later career, but he absolutely put his country on the map, his sport in the headline and himself in the process. It is a terrible tragedy for the sport and the world to lose someone who really put out their heart and soul out there to maximise their every potential. An inspiration to many and will continue to do so in the years to come.
im sorry...rest in peace.
