Yuna Kim

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             Queen of the Mountain

            A lone figure struggled up an icy mountain as gusts of wind howled around her, pushing her every step on the way. Torrents of snow whirled in a frenzy, the cold biting her skin. The path she followed was marred by countless indents where she had fallen, but gotten back up. Some were deeper than the others, but still, she got up and trudged on. After a long arduous journey, she finally reached the top and conquered her mountain. This was Yuna Kim, national skating hero. Kim started skating when she was seven, which was the start up her metaphorical mountain. She encountered quite a few obstacles but picked herself up no matter how hard it was, and continued forward. Her long years of focus paid off; she snatched up numerous prestigious awards. Kim reached her peak in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics where she triumphed over longtime rival Mao Asada, becoming the first Korean to win a gold in figure skating. Due to her immense popularity, she also attracted several endorsements. As a result, she became immensely wealthy. However, Kim was unlike many celebrities these days. She did not only have determination ingrained within her, but she also was generous enough to clear a smoother path for others though she herself had little assistance. In addition, Kim was the owner of a humble character. Clearly, she possessed a powerful combination of heroic traits; traits that gifted her with influence, which she used to shine rays of sunshine to brighten up the lives of others. 

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            Kim was not just a humanitarian; she had a humble spirit to match her benevolence. After a dazzling performance at the Olympics: "Kim penned a handwritten letter to Clinton to thank her for her congratulations on Kim's gold medal-winning performance at the Vancouver Winter Games in February"(Kim). These days, handwritten letters are rare; the more common form of communication is by electronic means. What makes this letter even more meaningful is that she took a chunk out of her hectic schedule and wrote that one letter. This letter also showed how she did not let fame corrupt her mind; she still respected her elders and was courteous enough to reply back. In an interview, Kim stated that ''''All athletes dream to have a gold medal at the Olympics, but I've watched a lot of figure skating from the Olympics and I've seen a lot of unexpected results. I believe that winning a gold medal in the Olympics requires a lot of skill and luck, but also requires a lot of God's blessing'' (Kim). Kim acknowledges that there are "unexpected results" in the Olympics, and that it took skill as well as luck. However, she never bragged about how she obtained the gold medal through her dedication, but humbly gave credit to God. Kim's modest nature sets an example for all of us to follow.

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            Kim not only showed great perseverance and selflessness; she also kept her character intact and untainted. Her touching story of how she conquered her mountain to become "Queen Yuna" has motivated people all around the world. Kim once said: "'I want to use my own positive experience to help the children of Haiti and the millions of vulnerable children around the world'"(Kim). She has plenty of "positive experience"; she already achieved her dream. Because of this, she started to help others, and the joy in which she went about it was admirable. In addition, the energy she radiated as she executed her routines inspired many other children, just as she was inspired by Kwan. Kim also had an infectious optimism, which lifted others up: "During her triple lutz-triple toe loop combination -- a move most women have not mastered -- her height, precision and distance help raise her scores. And she does it all with a smile"(Macur). If Kim can smile while executing one of the hardest skating techniques, we can smile while going through our own mundane lives. This encourages me to push through everything with a bright and open mind. Kim may be young, but she had left a lasting impression on millions of hearts as well as the record books with the combination of grace, optimism, and brilliance that only she possessed.

She may not have liberated a nation or found a cure for cancer, but she pursued her passion and brought more light to the world. And that's what made her a genuine hero.

Works Cited

"At a Glance: Korea, Republic of." UNICEF.  United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, 4 May 2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

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            One of the characteristics that defined Kim as a hero was the determination she possessed in the face of numerous obstacles. Her commitment started as a: " 7-year-old, she was so inspired by... skating at the 1998 Winter Games that she memorized [Kwan's] skating routines, pretending to be at the Olympics" (Kwan). Like many seven-year-olds, a dream blossomed in her head. However, unlike many seven-year-olds, she exerted the willpower to tend to her dream instead of squandering her time with futile daydreaming. Even from a young age, she realized the value of hard work and focused on her passion. Though Kim was more than willing to devote herself to skating, the conditions in which she had to train were not ideal, and she stated in an interview that: '"...there aren't enough coaches and ice rinks for training. Even the rinks we have are open to the public more than half the day, leaving only a few hours early in the morning and late at night for skaters. What's worse, in the little time there is, the rinks have to be shared by figure skaters, speed skaters and hockey players. The ice conditions and the temperature are also not the best for training'" (Kim). A myriad of problems were presented during Kim's childhood-- clearly she did not have the resources that were available to figure skaters in other countries. She did not live a pampered and sheltered life as one might expect. No short-cut or cheat was presented to her; her success was a product of all the blood, sweat, and tears she poured into skating. Kim's perseverance sets her apart from other dreamers; she managed to bring hers to life.

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            Another trait ingrained in Kim is compassion, which is shown when she selflessly gives to pave a smoother path for others. After winning silver in the World Figure Skating Championships, Kim: "donate[d] her silver prize money of $27,000 from the World Figure Skating Championships to children affected by the Japanese earthquake" (At a Glance: Korea, Republic of). $27,000 might not be enough money to aid all the victims of the earthquake. However, this was hard-earned prize money. She could have rewarded herself and used the money to indulge in materialistic objects such as clothes, jewelry, or electronics. Instead, she chose to gift it to a worthier cause. In addition to charity work, Kim: "As a [UNICEF] Goodwill Ambassador, she has made additional donations to the work of UNICEF and appeared in a special video marking the six month anniversary of the earthquake to thank donors and urge continued support for the children in Haiti"(At a Glance: Korea, Republic of). Though Kim achieved numerous awards and set several records, she was still quite young and had barely scratched the surface of her career. However, she decided to dedicate herself to pave a smoother road for others. Kim has done so in multiple ways, one being her use of her her sphere of influence. She knows that she has the power to impact the world so she personally "thank[ed] donors and urge[d] continued support." In the video, the passion behind her words shined through loud and clear despite her slight accent. Kim's giving spirit has made her beautiful both inside and out.