I like and enjoy Yuna, esp the person she is. But I am not Korean so have no nationalistic feeling for her, but then I don't feel Ashley is the best in the world just because she is American.
I smile at the diversity thing as you don't know me, and diversity is all around me. I feel Yuna does not yet do programs where she shows her emotions much. Perhaps she is very introverted? She does not reach out to audience in her competitive programs. The joy you see from say a Michelle Kwan or a Katelyn Osmond or Suzuki is just not Yuna's style. If she continues skating, maybe we will see this. YuNa may be a warm person if you are a family member or her inner circle Please don't misunderstand me. Bond was sexy and cool-perfect vehicle for her persona. Gershwin helped lighten her up as opposed to heavy classical music. The people that chose her music, costumes, and choreographed her every move were genius at CoP and performance.
It will be interesting to see if the "new" Yuna who returns is the same girl or one who skates more from the heart-so much so that we can see it. Maybe one has to be Korean to feel her program where she did homage to Korea? Is that possible Cosmos? But what is it about Michelle to use the most famous example, that touched people in every culture- Asians/non Asians. I think it was the joy and the way she showed us her heart. She was consistent in jumping, yes, won almost everything, but it was a real warmth and a desire to touch the audience that fueled her popularity. Yuna Kim is beautiful like Michelle. More beautiful. I thought her Vancouver skates great and athletic and polished. But they did not move me.
In 94, no one cared about Katarina Witt at the Olympics. Watch her LP. It was not full of smiles, nor great jumps, but one can feel her emotions about Sarajevo, a city she was the toast of in her career, and seeing it bombed to bits in the wars in Yugoslavia. I know all Korea loves Yuna like she was their daughter. As she matures, maybe I will find her skating more touching. She has had a sheltered life, yes? Mostly sucess and winning. We have a saying, there is more room in a broken heart.
At SC Elene G skated to the very haunting, moving soundtrack from the film Schindler's List. She touched me. Paul Wylie, a great American artistic skater used this too. The music alone is terribly moving, as it evokes the true tragedy of the holocaust. But many skaters would never skate to such music, as they do not find it in their heart to feel such angst filled music. Watch Wylie's performance as a pro on youtube and then tell me if you understand what I am saying to you.
Yuna is a skater to marvel at and admire in many ways. But there is this cool thing there-like Arakawa used to be-that did not touch me. Arakawa has lived some more and skates to Yugao which I know nothing about. But clearly this music makes her feel something and it is evident to me she is very much moved by it. I can feel it even though I know nothing right now about this music. She seems an artist now, primarily, not an athlete.
I certainly am open to and very excited about what offerings Yuna will bring as she skates to Sochi. I just hope her heart is truly into it.