Link: http://news.sbs.co.kr/section_news/news_read.jsp?news_id=N1000499119
Korean News Anchor: Judges made questionable calls on Yu-Na Kim’s flip at COC but Kim managed to handle the judges’ scoring quite well; she said she would like to let the matter drop although the result was not satisfactory. She sort of relieved herself of inmost feelings.
Q: Weren’t you mad at the wrong edge calls?
Kim: I’ve never officially complained about any (perceived unfair) results. I just keep my thoughts fast to myself. I’d like any athlete to receive fair judgment.
Q: Did you think about changing your way to execute a flip jump?
Kim: I’m quite confused with two different results; judges at SA said, “Good job!” and now judges here said otherwise. (I’ve been executing the same flip jumps for years and) I cannot change my technique now just at a snap of your fingers (since my body has been trained to memorize it for years). I think I’d best continue to do what I always did.
Q: What is your secret of such captivating facial expressions?
Kim: I too used to be a jumping bean with no facial expression at all. But when I chose a tango piece (for my SP in 2005), since tango music would make you look really horrible if you don’t skate very well to it, I wanted to express my feelings really well. So I tried and came to have confidence.
Q: Do you feel burdened with the Grand Pix Final near at hand?
Kim: Last year, I was not physically sound. While training for this season, on the contrary, I was mentally stressed out. I felt burdened by all the hopes and expectations. The higher my fans set their expectations, the more I feel responsible. I think I’ll have to control my feelings well.
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My 2 cents: I truly believe that Yu-Na at the 2008 Worlds was just like Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election except that she accepted the result right away and with dignity. Yes, like any other athletes, she too knows how to live with the inevitability of calls she doesn't like. But as Yamaguchi once said, I wish 'the times she's robbed and rewarded would equal out'.
Korean News Anchor: Judges made questionable calls on Yu-Na Kim’s flip at COC but Kim managed to handle the judges’ scoring quite well; she said she would like to let the matter drop although the result was not satisfactory. She sort of relieved herself of inmost feelings.
Q: Weren’t you mad at the wrong edge calls?
Kim: I’ve never officially complained about any (perceived unfair) results. I just keep my thoughts fast to myself. I’d like any athlete to receive fair judgment.
Q: Did you think about changing your way to execute a flip jump?
Kim: I’m quite confused with two different results; judges at SA said, “Good job!” and now judges here said otherwise. (I’ve been executing the same flip jumps for years and) I cannot change my technique now just at a snap of your fingers (since my body has been trained to memorize it for years). I think I’d best continue to do what I always did.
Q: What is your secret of such captivating facial expressions?
Kim: I too used to be a jumping bean with no facial expression at all. But when I chose a tango piece (for my SP in 2005), since tango music would make you look really horrible if you don’t skate very well to it, I wanted to express my feelings really well. So I tried and came to have confidence.
Q: Do you feel burdened with the Grand Pix Final near at hand?
Kim: Last year, I was not physically sound. While training for this season, on the contrary, I was mentally stressed out. I felt burdened by all the hopes and expectations. The higher my fans set their expectations, the more I feel responsible. I think I’ll have to control my feelings well.
======
My 2 cents: I truly believe that Yu-Na at the 2008 Worlds was just like Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election except that she accepted the result right away and with dignity. Yes, like any other athletes, she too knows how to live with the inevitability of calls she doesn't like. But as Yamaguchi once said, I wish 'the times she's robbed and rewarded would equal out'.
YuNa seems to have a great team of support around her and she seems to have the right focus!
