Queen of ice gets taste of limelight
Source: Agencies |
March 2, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IF Kim Yu-na thought she was famous before she was crowned Olympic champion, the South Korean figure skater got a taste of what life will be like just 18 hours after her golden moment.
No matter where she went on Friday, everyone wanted a piece of the teenager who is already being called 'Queen Yu-na.'
Little girls wanted her autograph, men wanted a picture with her, women wanted to shake her hand and hundreds of reporters swarmed around her like bees to honey, hanging on to her every word - even if she did not have much to say.
"Even before the Olympics, everyone in Korea knew who I am so I don't think it's going to make that much of a difference," the softly spoken Kim said.
Her Canadian coach Brian Orser clearly did not agree. A week after declaring that being with Kim was "like traveling around with Princess Diana," he struggled to find the words to sum up what her return to Korea would be like and shaking his head, he said "Oh my god."
After a very long pause he added: "It's going to be interesting going to Korea as they just adore her."
On the ice, Kim comes across as a goddess among mere mortals, driving home the gulf in class by a huge 23-point winning margin over her rivals in Vancouver.
Off the ice, she almost seems younger than her 19 years. She opened her arms wide when five-time world champion Michelle Kwan popped in to give her a congratulatory embrace and giggled throughout their short exchange.
Kim scored a record 78.50 points for her short program, a record 150.06 for the free skate and a combined total of 228.56 points - shattering her previous world record by more than 18 points.
Her closest rival Mao Asada became the first woman to pull off two triple Axels in an Olympic program but was no match for the champion. "It's not just the score, I'm just really satisfied that I produced my best ever performance at the Olympics with so many record scores," said Kim.
No matter where she went on Friday, everyone wanted a piece of the teenager who is already being called 'Queen Yu-na.'
Little girls wanted her autograph, men wanted a picture with her, women wanted to shake her hand and hundreds of reporters swarmed around her like bees to honey, hanging on to her every word - even if she did not have much to say.
"Even before the Olympics, everyone in Korea knew who I am so I don't think it's going to make that much of a difference," the softly spoken Kim said.
Her Canadian coach Brian Orser clearly did not agree. A week after declaring that being with Kim was "like traveling around with Princess Diana," he struggled to find the words to sum up what her return to Korea would be like and shaking his head, he said "Oh my god."
After a very long pause he added: "It's going to be interesting going to Korea as they just adore her."
On the ice, Kim comes across as a goddess among mere mortals, driving home the gulf in class by a huge 23-point winning margin over her rivals in Vancouver.
Off the ice, she almost seems younger than her 19 years. She opened her arms wide when five-time world champion Michelle Kwan popped in to give her a congratulatory embrace and giggled throughout their short exchange.
Kim scored a record 78.50 points for her short program, a record 150.06 for the free skate and a combined total of 228.56 points - shattering her previous world record by more than 18 points.
Her closest rival Mao Asada became the first woman to pull off two triple Axels in an Olympic program but was no match for the champion. "It's not just the score, I'm just really satisfied that I produced my best ever performance at the Olympics with so many record scores," said Kim.
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