Kim Yu-na Syndrome

Figure-skating prodigy Kim Yu-na set a world record at the World Championships in Los Angeles on March 29 by scoring 131.59 points in the women’s single free skating and 76.12 points in the short program. She won her first world figure skating title after just three tries. Given the relatively difficult conditions that Korean figure skaters face due to the low popularity of figure skating in Korea and the lack of training facilities, Kim Yu-na’s feat was literally a miracle.

Up until recently, figure skating was an unpopular sport in Korea. But these days, skating rinks are crowded with children dreaming of becoming the “second” or even “third Kim Yu-na.” More and more parents are bringing their children to skating rinks to learn how to ice skate. The Eoullimnuri Skating Rink in Goyang saw an increase in the number of its visitors in February last year, when the Four Continent Figure Skating Competition was held. But following Kim Yu-na’s victory in the World Championships, public interest in figure skating has reached new heights. A Goyang official in charge of managing skating rinks said Kim Yu-na’s popularity has boosted the popularity of figure skating in the nation, with more people being interested in figure skating than in speed skating these days.

Read the full story on source: KBS Global

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