By Michelle KwanI couldn't have been more surprised or honored last summer when Korean figure skater Kim Yu-Na told me that as a 7-year-old, she was so inspired by my skating at the 1998 Winter Games that she memorized my skating routines, pretending to be at the Olympics. Twelve years later, she no longer had to pretend. I have never seen a skater with such a combination of artistry and athleticism. From the first notes of her sassy James Bond medley to the closing Gershwin strains, Kim's inspiring performances in Vancouver changed the face of figure skating forever. Those 6½ minutes on the ice left not only a mark in the record book but also an indelible impression on millions of young girls around the world. For Kim, the dream that began as a 7-year-old has been realized. For these girls, thanks to her, a dream and journey are just beginning.
Kwan is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984949_1985220,00.html#ixzz0mcWTgmgJ
4 comments:
Amazing!
hero? ha, funny.
She donated a million dollars to Haiti earthquake victims; giving the proceeds from her figure skating show to victims of the ship tragedy in S.Korea and to the Foundation for Persons with Disabilities… among other charitable acts; http://bit.ly/2R2Jnx http://bit.ly/9tlz7e
Yea… Hero fits nicely.
No need for sarcasm. For a starter, Yuna is a hero to all the kids around the world tying up their skating boots today by the rink, just like Kwan used to be in her competitive skating career.
In Korea, she involves herself with many socially conscious activities, charity work, donations, etc. She is well respected, not in the same way as some idol entertainers, but in a serious sense.
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