Word: kim
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...While all week Kim denied feeling burdened by those expectations, she had clearly bottled up some anxiety that needed a release on Thursday. Just after hitting her final pose, she broke down in tears, unable to believe that all the anticipation about the Olympics was finally over. "I still can't believe my performance," she said. "I don't know why I cried. I think I thought it might not turn out well, so when I finished my program, I felt good...
...Thousands of miles away, life went on pause across the Korean Peninsula as students (now on winter break) and office workers all stopped what they were doing to watch Kim's program at 1:20 p.m. Seung Jun Lee, a 16-year-old high school student in Yangju, 30 miles north of Seoul, returned home from cram school at lunch to watch Kim skate with his family. "Maybe I will have to skip class today," he predicted amid the excitement. Even businessmen had caught Kim fever and were willing to suffer a dip in productivity during her skate. "When Kim...
...Kim had to look overseas as well, when her talent outmatched the coaching skills in Korea. She sought out a training facility in North America or Europe, landing in Toronto, where Canadian Olympic silver medalist Brian Orser was just beginning his coaching career. Having decided to adopt a hands-on approach, Orser skates along with Kim during most of her training sessions, pushing her to the remarkable speed she achieves as she flies across the rink. The move may have been just what Kim needed. "I think Yu-Na improved so much in Canada," says Jae Eun Chung, director...
...such talent can't be cultivated on home ice. Coaches in Korea don't have the expertise to refine techniques in spins, jumps or footwork to the level of Olympic perfection, so they are sending their most promising skaters outside the country. But with the growth in interest that Kim has nurtured - she is one of the most recognized and highly paid celebrities in the country today - Korean skating officials realize they need to build more rinks and recruit more coaches, and fast. "After Kim Yu-Na became so popular, the number of students in our figure-skating club [more...
...skating officials don't ride the momentum Kim has generated, young skaters may continue to train elsewhere, a huge burden for those who may have talent but can't afford a transoceanic move and may therefore give up skating dreams altogether. "I've thought about it but haven't made any plans," said Kwak, Kim's 16-year-old teammate, who finished 13th. "Compared to other countries, we have fewer skaters and fewer coaches...