'Figure Queen' Kim Yuna, A Special Time for Aspiring Athletes
On the cold ice rink, the 'Figure Queen' Kim Yuna, who once moved the world, stood this time with the heart of a mentor.
To nurture the dreams of her juniors on the path she has taken, Kim Yuna is still quietly leaving warm footprints on the ice.
She proved once again that she did not rise to the throne of 'Yuna Queen' solely for her skill in figure skating.
On the 27th, Kim Yuna directly guided the master class athletes at the 'Play Winter Figure Skating Academy' held at the Gangneung Hockey Centre in Gangwon Province, helping to foster the next generation of skaters.
Kim Yuna meticulously taught the fundamentals of figure skating, including jumps, stroking, and spins, encouraging young athletes to pursue greater dreams. She shared her warm wishes, saying, "There will be many challenging moments for my juniors, but I hope they overcome them and grow into wonderful athletes."
PyeongChang Olympic Legacy, Connected to Future Talents
The 'Play Winter Figure Skating Academy' is a flagship program hosted by the PyeongChang 2018 Foundation, aiming to inherit the legacy of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and to broaden the base of figure skating in South Korea. Kim Yuna has participated as an instructor every year since the academy started in 2021, and over 2,800 athletes have completed this program to date.
Notably, current leading figures in Korean figure skating, such as Kim Yu-jae, Kim Yu-sung, and Hwang Jung-yul, are known to have come from this program, earning praise for the meaningful guidance provided by Kim Yuna.
Former National Representatives and International Judges Also Participated
This year's academy included Kim Yuna, former national representatives Kim Hae-jin and Kim Ye-rim, as well as Yang Tae-hwa, an International Skating Union (ISU) technical judge, among the instructors.
Young athletes received valuable opportunities to develop their skills directly under the mentorship of figure skating stars and experts.
A spokesperson for the PyeongChang Foundation stated, "Kim Yuna participates in the academy every year, instilling dreams and hope in her juniors," adding, "This kind of support will lay the groundwork for the future of Korean figure skating."
Image Source: News1
