Quotes by Young Skaters about Yu-Na
Belgium
Ira Vannut
Idol: Kevin Van Der Perren, Yu-Na Kim
Mention #1 ( August 16, 2010 Source ), Mention #2 ( May 22, 2011 GoldenSkate )
China
Bingwa Geng
“I like Kim Yuna, she is amazing, she represents everything I aspire to be, and I wish to work hard to follow her direction.”
( February 5, 2011 Source 1 & Source 2 )
Bingwa Geng was assigned to practice in the same group as Yu-Na ahead of the 2011 Worlds SP. She tweeted happily about getting to train with her idol (source) and later tweeted another photo of the two together (source).
Caoyue
Names Yu-Na as her idol and has a picture of them from 2007 Cup of China ( Source )
Zijun Li
Who is your favorite skater?
ZiJun: Kim Yuna
Host: Why Kim Yuna?
ZiJun: Because her skate feels different to most other skaters.
Host: Why different?
ZiJun: Hmm… her speed for start, such her expressions, her jump quality are all better than others.
Host: Do you have any particular rivals?
ZiJun: Too many rivals (laughs).
Host: Hmm… okay fine, let's take a look at this chart, it could include your Idol, but it may be what it will look like in the next 3 year's time the competitive environment. What do you consider you would most like to be?
ZiJun: (Nervously shy laugh) If I want to be good, I would like to be similar to Kim Yuna? (sound a bit doubtful)
( January 1, 2011, CTV Source 1 & Source 2 & Youtube Video )
France
Yrétha Silété
When asked who her role models are, named Yu-Na Kim and Mao Asada. “I love their flow, their grace and their technique…Everything looks so easy and natural for them.”
(August 2010, IFS Magazine, Pg. 19, article by Paul Peret, “French Ladies on the Rise”)
Germany
Sarah Hecken
Q:In Vancouver the Korean Yu-Na Kim won 2010 Olympic gold. Everything at her looks so light and floating. Are you taking her achievement for your role model?
A:Yu-Na Kim is definitely a role model. She has done everything right, she skates great. She can master all triple jumps except of axel. And she mesmerizes the audience. Behind this a lot of work is hidden, she is really good.
Q:Do you dare to hope yourself, one day achieving Yu-Na Kim's level?
A:I think everyone who wants it and put into a lot of work, can reach there. I therefore hope that I manage.
HongKong
Maisy Ma “She is different from others, including jumps, everything is impeccable”.
(Age 12 at time of quote, 5th January 2012, Source 1 Source 2 )
Japan
Kanako Murakami
When asked about which foreign skaters she admires, Kanako answered: “For step sequences, it's Stephane [Lambiel] and Yu-Na Kim, and Joannie Rochette for her jumping technique.”
(August 2010, IFS Magazine, Pg. 17, article by Jack Gallagher, “Golden Season for Murakami” )
Hanyu Yuzuru
At around 4:50, Yuzuru is asked by the interviewer which female skaters he likes. His response is, “Of course, Kim Yu-Na and Asada Mao.” He gives his comments about Mao, then at around 5:13, he comments about Yu-Na.
… he says “ジャンプだけではなくて, ジャンプがはいりつつそのプロがかんせいしてるとこがすき” “Jumps are not just jumps in Yuna, her jumps are inseparably combined in the program and that completes her program.”
(Date: 11 August 2011, Source:Youtube
Credit & Translations: Sleepy Panda, Winteriscoming @ YNKF thread )
Netherlands
Laura Ponzio
Her great model is the Olympic champion from Korea, Kim Yuna.
( December 30, 2010 Source )
Russia
Sofia Biryukova
Selected Danse Macabre as her Long Program music due to Yu-na's performances to it at the 2009 Worlds. When asked who are her idols, Sofia answered, “Of course, it's Yu Na Kim. I really admire her creativity. She has insane jumps, skating.” [Her list also included her own coach, Viktoria Volchkova, Joannie Rochette, and Irina Slutskaya.] (November 21, 2010 Source)
Elena Ilinykh
(Asked via formspring about women's figure skating and if she had a favorite)
Of course I have. Yuna Kim - she is the best! Just like a cat. Really like to watch how she skates, so much energy and emotions that it takes your breath away.
Polina Shelepen
The skaters she looks up to are Olympic Champion Yu-Na Kim and World Champion Daisuke Takahashi. “I really like how they are skating. As for Yu-Na Kim, I love her high, big jumps and her choreography.” (July 11, 2010 Source)
Elizaveta (“Lisa”) Tuktamysheva
Does not have idols, but likes Yu-Na Kim and Mao Asada for their elegant and effortless-looking jumps.
( August 29, 2010 Source )
United Kingdom
Lana Bagen
Lists her favourite skaters as Yu Na Kim, Mao Asada and Yvgeni Plushenko.
( December 7, 2010 Source )
Isabella Larkin
Q: Which current/former competitor(s) do you most admire?
A : I most admire Kim Yu-na, who is amazing to watch because she is very artistic and makes everything look easy.
(iSkate Magazine, June 2010 issue, interview, source)
Ukraine
Anastasiya Kononenko
Who are your favourite skaters?
“I like Tara Lipinski, Yu-Na Kim, Daisuke Takahashi, and Jeremy Abbott.”
(April 2011 Source)
United States of America
Samantha Cabiles
”[S]eeing the Olympic Champion fall and then seeing how she corrected herself and moved past issues was a life changing experience for Sami that only someone like Yu Na could teach her firsthand by example. This experience was rare and invaluable, and Sami took everything she could from watching the successful senior skater.”
( Official Website, "Training with Yu Na Kim" article by Forrest Corel)
Christina Gao
“After seeing Yuna Kim with the Olympics, I realized that dreams can come true. I love skating, and if I work hard, hopefully that can happen for me, too.”
( October 10, 2010 Source )
Listed Yu-Na as one of the five figure skaters she most admires. “Yu-Na Kim - She was my former training mate and she won the 2010 Olympics. I was inspired because I saw her train every day leading up to that. The amount of pressure she was under – it was amazing how she could perform like that.”
( December 17, 2010 Cincinnati.com source & YNKF )
Kristienne Gong
Would like to meet Yu-Na Kim “because she is an amazing skater who is almost always able to step up to the plate even under intense pressure and I'd love to learn how she does it.”
( Source )
Vanessa Lam
Lam is inspired by Yuna Kim, who won the 2010 Olympic gold medal with a record score.
“Yuna Kim motivates me in so many ways,” said Lam. “On the ice, she is one of the best skaters in history with her triple-triple combinations. Off the ice, she is a perfect role model by being humble in any situation. If I become a well-known skater, I hope to be as good of a role model to others as Yuna Kim is to me.”
( January 20, 2011 Source )
Hannah Miller
It can certainly inspire a potential Olympic champion to watch her idol win the gold medal in person. That's just what Hannah Miller, 13, of Williamston did this past winter, watching Yu-Na Kim of South Korea win the gold in ladies figure skating at the Vancouver Winter Games. “She's just a great skater,” Hannah said.
( September 12, 2010 Lansington State Journal )
Agnes Zawadzki
Agnes has grown up admiring Cohen, Michelle Kwan and Yu-Na Kim.
( March 22, 2010 Source )
Lauren Dinh
“Looks up to Yuna Kim …”
( Source )