’10 years after Kim Yu-na’ Korean figure skating again spring day?
Korean figure skating is preparing to take off once again.
Cha Jun-hwan (21, Korea University), the leader of men’s figure skating, scored technical (55.04 points) and artistic (44.60 points)안전놀이터 points in the men’s single short program at the 2023 International Skating Union (ISU) Figure Skating World Championships held at Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on the 23rd. He received a total score of 99.64 and came in third place out of 34.
There isn’t too much of a difference between the top and bottom. Currently, Japan’s Shoma Uno (104.63 points), who won last year’s championship, is currently in first place, followed by American figure skater Ilya Malinin (100.38 points). Men’s free skating will be held on the 25th, and if Cha Jun-hwan shows stable performance, he can stand on the world championship podium for the first time in men’s figure skating history.
On this day, Cha Jun-hwan’s acting was flawless. In particular, his improvement in jumping is noticeable. Cha Jun-hwan was able to renew his personal best score (previous 99.51 points) by neatly digesting the triple axel, which was unsettling this season, following the 4th round jump.
After finishing his performance, Cha Jun-hwan attended the official press conference and said, “It was difficult to prepare for the world championships, but I played with a comfortable mind. I am satisfied with my performance today.”
He went on to say, “I have been in good condition but tend to collapse at the end of the season,” he said.
A warm spring day is coming again in women’s figure skating. The main character is Lee Hae-in.
Lee Hae-in also scored 73.62 points in the short program, placing second behind Kaori Sakamoto (Japan, 79.24 points).
Lee Hae-in won her gold medal at the ISU Four Continents Championships held last month, 14 years after Kim Yu-na in 2009.
After finishing her short program, Lee Hae-in expressed her determination through management company All That Sports, “It would be a lie if I said that the remaining free games were not burdensome, but as it is a tournament I really wanted to come to, I want to enjoy it and show a good figure until the end.”
Meanwhile, the last year a Korean figure skater won a medal at the World Championships was 2013, 10 years ago. The main character is, of course, Yuna Kim. Yuna Kim won the second of her career at the 2013 World Championships, just before her retirement season. Her Yuna Kim showed off her spirit by reaching the podium in every competition she participated in, recording her first, second and third place twice each in her own career.
