Yuna Kim

(http://www.sizzlingbeauty.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/0731-kim-yeon-ah1.jpg)

Born on September 5, 1990 in Bucheon, Gyeonggi-Do, Yuna Kim started skating at the age of 7. Unfortunately, her early training was marked with difficulties that included poor skating facilities, financial strain, and time management. However, her first coach, Ryu Jong-Hyeon, impressed with Kim's talent, strongly suggested to Kim's mother that Kim should continue skating, predicting that she would become a world-class figure skater in the future. “Her potential was spotted early on by coaches and onlookers who fueled her competitive nature by encouraging her to continue her training and challenging her to become the best figure skater in the world” (Herbert). With all the support and love towards the sport, Kim began the difficult workout. Every day, Kim was practicing, stretching, or taking ballet lessons to increase her flexibility and endurance. “By 2002 all the hours and sacrifices began bearing fruit when she won the Triglav Trophy at her first international competition” (Fox), which marked the beginning of Kim’s skating career.

Emotional Yuna after winning gold medal - 2010 (http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID25310/images/resized_yuna8.jpg)

After her first win, she emerged as the “queen” of ice skating. In 2007, she moved to Canada to begin training with former figure skater Brian Orser who took her to the next level. Soon enough, she became her nation’s first figure skating champion, as well as a national hero and a symbol of the new confidence in South Korea. She was even awarded the 47th Korean Athletic Sports and the 55th Korean Sports Council awards in 2009. No one else could support and make South Korea proud like Kim, who has an incredible ability and dedication. At the 2010 Olympics, Kim made a world record with an astonishing score of 228.56 points and “edged out arch-rival Mao Asada, the Japanese sensation who came in second, 4.72 points behind her” (Kirk). She became the first South Korean skater to medal or receive a gold in any discipline of figure skating at the Olympic Games. This displayed “a moment of total national pride, of success not only for Ms. Kim but for a nation that likes nothing better than to revel in triumph, especially when the victory is over Japan” (Kirk). For a long time, Kim and Asada fought for first in almost every championship, but the Olympics made a great impact on Kim’s lead towards being the number one skater. Showing great competence and guiding her nation to great confidence and boldness, Kim is worthy of the title national hero.

Yuna Kim as a commercial model (http://blog.fooyoh.com/attach/38/1201065701.jpg)

Just as we can’t underestimate Kim’s skating skills, we also can’t sell short on Kim’s wealth. At the 2010 Olympics, Kim “reportedly picked up 8 million dollars in endorsements and prize money as the champion” (Kirk), an incredible amount even for an Olympic gold medalist. On top of all the competitions, she also participates in all kinds of pursuits, starting from commercials to singing on T.V. shows. If we add up all the prize money and work payment, she makes a lot of money. However, the fantastic thing about Kim is that to her, money isn’t everything. If there is someone who needs help, Kim is always there to provide assistance to them. In fact, she “emerged as a queen of giving, donating more than 2 billion won, about $1.76 million” (Pak). Since 2007, Kim has been involved in a variety of charities, ranging from sponsoring figure players to assisting patients suffering from rare diseases. Kim has taken part in charities for children ailing with cancer and other rare disease ($123,200), the Rights of the Disabled ($1,121), and UNICEF for the Haiti earthquake ($1 million). “The figure queen also set aside part of her model fees to help those in need. In particular, she gave 100 million won ($88,000) out of her model fee for a school uniform ad as a scholarship for students of poor households” (Pak). No matter where the money comes from, Kim is willing to offer some to others. In addition, when Kim is not contributing to provide care and relief for the world, she is funding and sponsoring the figure skating world. Kim even made it a rule that she would give $10,560 to figure skating aspirants every year in order to inspire new generations of figure skaters in the world or to open up the knowledge of the sport. Instead of being selfish and greedy by keeping all of her earnings, Kim sacrifices her wealth in order to help the world and to encourage figure skating to develop and grow.

Her selflessness and determination not only make Kim an influential role model for future figure skaters, but to anyone in the world. Kim is “an icon to people, who view her as a symbol of athletic prowess, artistic grace, and nationalistic pride” (Herbert). She has proven that someone who starts from absolute zero can accomplish getting to the top with hard work and perseverance. Kim once remarked, “I haven’t focused much on scores, but I want to finish my program clean-cut without big mistakes” (Kim). No matter how perfect she performs the routine, Kim never cuts herself short. She always works toward completion and precision, allowing all her shows to be breath-taking and astonishing. All of her devotion, potential, and pride make Kim incomparable and an admirable inspiration. In fact, she is so popular that firms are happily spending millions of dollars just to use her name, and “more than 300 companies are known to have approached Kim with business opportunities” (Cho). The "Yuna fever" has reached unreasonable levels, and Kim’s influence in South Korea is incredible and powerful.

(http://eastwindupchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/kim.jpg)

While on the ice, Kim is the world’s number one ice skater. Off the ice, she is a hero who sacrifices her wealth for the helpless and brings great delight and victory to her nation. Wherever she stands, Kim always shows great dedication and determination to her accomplishments, while remaining extraordinarily humble despite her stellar success. Whether it is Kim’s athletic prowess, seamless artistic ability, or wonderful personality, she motivates and inspires with her grace and achievements. Kim’s fire gloriously burns and it will keep blazing as long as she stays true to herself and believes.