151 Facts About Yuna Kim

Yuna Kim, credited in eastern name order as Kim Yuna or Kim Yeon-a, is a retired South Korean competitive figure skater.

Yuna Kim is the 2010 Olympic champion, the 2014 Olympic silver medalist, a two-time World champion the 2009 Four Continents champion, a three-time Grand Prix Final champion, the 2006 World Junior champion, the 2005 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, and a six-time South Korean national champion.

Yuna Kim is the first female skater ever to win every major international competition, namely, the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the Four Continents Championships, and the Grand Prix Final.

Yuna Kim is the first figure skater ever to complete a Super Slam, having won every major senior and junior competition.

Yuna Kim is one of the most highly recognized athletes and media figures in South Korea.

Yuna Kim is the former record holder for ladies in the short program, free skate and combined total under the ISU Judging System.

Yuna Kim has broken world record scores 11 times under the ISU Judging System since 2007, eight of which being records she herself set.

Yuna Kim is the first female skater to surpass the 140-point and 150-point free skating mark and the 200-point, 210-point and 220-point total mark, as well as the first and only figure skater to have never finished off the podium in her entire career under the current ISU Judging System.

Yuna Kim has been beaten by only seven skaters throughout her career.

Yuna Kim is noted for her great rivalry with three-time World champion Mao Asada from Japan.

Yuna Kim was the highest paid athlete at the 2010 Winter Olympics, and the fifth, seventh, sixth and fourth top-earning sportswoman in the world in 2010,2012,2013 and 2014 respectively according to Forbes.

Yuna Kim was included in Time magazine's annual Time 100 of World's Most Influential People in 2010.

Yuna Kim was the first to top Forbes Korea Power Celebrity and was ranked in the top 10 from 2009 to 2015 and in 2018.

Yuna Kim was born on September 5,1990, in Gyeonggi-do, to Yuna Kim Hyeon-seok, a business owner, and Park Mi-hee.

Yuna Kim's mother took an active role in her skating career from the beginning, driving her to the ice rink each day and acting as her manager and spokesperson.

Yuna Kim played English cassette tapes in the car to help improve her language skills.

Yuna Kim went to Dojang Middle School, though she stopped attending classes after joining the national team, and later Suri High School in Gunpo.

Yuna Kim graduated from Korea University in 2013 with a degree in Physical Education.

Yuna Kim went on to add, "Even now, when athletes want to practice, they have to use the rink very early [in the] morning or late at night", further describing how there weren't enough ice rinks to facilitate all the figure skating teams, which led to skaters having to train in different rinks from day to day, and that there was a high possibility of injury due to the rinks being too cold.

Yuna Kim trained in the USA for her distinguishing jumps, choosing to train abroad because of the general practice circumstances in Korea.

Yuna Kim described how her coach used a harness to teach her how to jump a triple toe loop in the same interview.

In 2002, Yuna Kim competed internationally for the first time at the Triglav Trophy in Slovenia, where she won the gold medal in the novice competition.

Yuna Kim won her second international competition at the Golden Bear of Zagreb, a novice competition.

Yuna Kim continued her reign as the South Korean champion between 2003 and 2006.

Yuna Kim won a gold medal at her first competition in Hungary and became the first Korean skater to win a Junior Grand Prix event.

At her second competition in China, Yuna Kim was in fourth place after an error-laden short program, but rebounded in the free skate to take second place overall.

Yuna Kim retained her national title for the third year in a row on her way to the 2005 World Junior Championships.

Yuna Kim made her senior international debut at the 2006 Skate Canada where she won a bronze medal after placing first at the short program and fourth in the free skate, with a total overall score of 168.48 points.

At the 2006 Trophee Eric Bompard, Yuna Kim placed first in both the short program and free skating, and won the event with a total of 184.54 points.

Yuna Kim placed third in the short program and first in the free skating, winning the Grand Prix Final with 184.20 points, defeating silver medalist Mao Asada.

Yuna Kim was scheduled to compete at the 2007 Asian Winter Games, but withdrew.

Yuna Kim was selected to compete at the 2007 World Championships in Tokyo based on her performance during the season.

Yuna Kim fell on both her triple Lutzes during the free skate and performed a triple Salchow-double toe loop combination which received no credit as it was considered a fourth combination.

Yuna Kim finished fourth in the segment, and third overall, behind Miki Ando and Mao Asada.

In March 2007, satisfied with the training environment in Toronto, Yuna Kim made it her training home, and Orser became her new full-time coach.

Yuna Kim started the season by winning the 2007 Cup of China with a total score of 180.68 points, over 24 points ahead of silver medalist Caroline Zhang.

Yuna Kim landed a triple flip-single toe loop combination, a triple Lutz, and a double Axel and placed third in the short program.

At the 2007 Cup of Russia, Yuna Kim won the short program scoring 63.50 points and the free skate with 133.70 points, finishing first overall with 197.20 points, and set a world record for the free skate score under the ISU Judging System.

Yuna Kim executed a triple flip-triple toe loop, a triple loop, a triple Lutz-double toe loop, a double Axel-triple toe loop, a triple Lutz, a triple Salchow, and a double Axel.

Yuna Kim won the short program with 64.62 points and placed second in the free skate with 132.21 points.

Yuna Kim was not required to participate in the 2008 South Korean Championships due to her previous results.

Yuna Kim was placed fifth in the short program with 59.85 points, but rebounded in the free skate to win the program with 123.38.

Yuna Kim scored 183.23 points overall, and won her second consecutive bronze medal at the World Championships.

At the 2008 Skate America, Yuna Kim placed first in the short program with a score of 69.50, leading by 11.70 points despite trouble with her double Axel.

Yuna Kim captured the ladies' title, winning the free skate with a score of 123.95, and earned 193.45 points overall, more than 20 points ahead of silver medalist Yukari Nakano.

Yuna Kim won the 2008 Cup of China, where she received a score of 63.64 in the short program and 128.11 in the free skate, placing first in both.

Yuna Kim was placed first in the short program with 65.94 points and second in the free skate where she earned 120.41 points.

Yuna Kim won the silver medal with a total score of 186.35 points, 2.20 behind Mao Asada.

Yuna Kim then competed in the 2009 Four Continents in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Yuna Kim set a new world record of 72.24 points in the short program with a clean performance.

Yuna Kim scored 116.83 in the free skating program, keeping the lead with 189.07 points overall and winning the gold medal.

Yuna Kim won the free skate, and set a new world record total score of 207.71, winning her first World Championship title, as well as becoming the first female skater to surpass 200 points under the ISU Judging System.

Yuna Kim executed a double Axel-double toe loop-double loop, a double Axel-triple toe loop, a triple Salchow, a triple Lutz and a double Axel.

Yuna Kim won the event with 210.03 points, ahead of silver medalist Mao Asada.

Yuna Kim set world records for the free skate and the overall score under the ISU Judging System.

At the 2009 Skate America, Yuna Kim placed first again after the short program with a score of 76.28,17.48 points ahead of her closest competitor Rachael Flatt.

Yuna Kim set a new world record for the short program under the ISU Judging System.

Yuna Kim placed second in the free skate with a score of 111.70 points, due to mistakes in her jumps.

Yuna Kim won the event with 187.98 points, beating silver medalist Rachael Flatt with a lead of more than 13 points.

Yuna Kim placed second in the short program with 65.64 points, behind Miki Ando.

In February 2010, Yuna Kim competed in the ladies event at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, where she won Olympic gold, thereby completing her Super Slam.

In March 2010, Yuna Kim competed at the 2010 World Championships in Turin, Italy.

Yuna Kim said she had struggled with finding the motivation to compete at the World Championships after winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games.

Yuna Kim placed seventh in the short program with 60.30 points.

Yuna Kim opened with a triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination, but had problems with her layback spin and spiral sequence.

Yuna Kim rebounded in the free skate to win the program with 130.49 points, and won the silver medal with a total of 190.79 points.

In February 2010, Yuna Kim competed in the ladies event at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Yuna Kim entered the Games as a strong favorite to win the gold.

Yuna Kim scored 78.50 points, taking the lead by 4.72 over Mao Asada of Japan and achieving her best score in the short program.

Yuna Kim landed a triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination, a triple flip, a double Axel-double toe loop-double loop combination, a double Axel-triple toe loop combination, a triple Salchow, a triple Lutz and a double Axel.

Yuna Kim won the gold medal, becoming the first South Korean skater to medal in any discipline of figure skating at the Olympic Games.

Yuna Kim defeated silver medalist Mao Asada by 23.06 points, the greatest margin recorded in women's singles at the Olympics or World Championships since the introduction of the ISU Judging System.

Yuna Kim stated on her official website that they had been maintaining an awkward and ambiguous relationship for months and that she was perplexed by Orser's announcement.

Yuna Kim said that the dismissal had been her decision and that the reason behind it did not need to be made public.

Yuna Kim won the silver medal at the event after being placed first in the short program and second in the free skate with a total score of 194.50 points, 1.29 points behind Miki Ando.

Yuna Kim said she might miss the next Grand Prix series due to her work promoting South Korea's successful bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

In May 2011, Yuna Kim told Around the Rings that bringing the Winter Olympics to Pyeongchang would be an inspiration to young athletes in Korea.

Yuna Kim left Oppegard and started training with her childhood coaches Shin Hea-sook and Ryu Jong-hyun.

Yuna Kim competed at the event to earn the minimum score required for Championship events.

Yuna Kim placed first in the short program with a score of 72.27 points and won the free skate with 129.34 to claim the gold medal.

In January 2013, due to her lack of competition in the previous season, Yuna Kim had to compete in the 2013 South Korean Championships to earn a spot for the 2013 World Championships.

Yuna Kim placed first in the short program with a score of 64.97, and won the free skate with a score of 145.80, after skating a clean program.

Yuna Kim won her fifth national title and qualified to compete in the World Championships.

At the 2013 World Championships, Yuna Kim placed first in the short program with a score of 69.97 points after completing a triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination, a triple flip and a double Axel, taking the lead over Carolina Kostner from Italy.

Yuna Kim won the free skate after executing a clean program that earned 148.34 points.

Yuna Kim competed in the 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb in Zagreb, Croatia, in December 2013.

Yuna Kim placed first in the short program with a score of 73.37 points and won the free skate with 131.12 points, despite falling on a triple Lutz.

Yuna Kim won the gold medal with a total score of 204.49 points, beating Miki Ando of Japan by 27.67 points.

In early January, Yuna Kim competed in the 2014 South Korean Championships.

Yuna Kim led after a perfect short program with 80.60 points and won the free skate with 147.26 points.

In February 2014, Yuna Kim competed in the ladies event at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, with the intention of her two programs being the farewell performances of her competitive career.

Yuna Kim led the short program and came in second in the free skate, and finished with an Olympic silver medal.

Yuna Kim participated in the South Korean ice show Superstars on Ice in 2006, shortly before her senior debut, and in the Japanese show Dreams on Ice the following year.

Yuna Kim hosted a charity ice show, Angels on Ice, on December 25,2008, in Seoul, appearing alongside 2008 World bronze medallist Johnny Weir and ten young South Korean figure skaters.

Yuna Kim stated she wanted to show her gratitude to local fans for their support.

In June 2012, Yuna Kim took part in Artistry on Ice in China.

Yuna Kim made a guest appearance in All That Skate in 2018, before returning in a starring role a year later.

From a technical point of view, Yuna Kim is famous for her speed, ice coverage, strong jump technique, and consistency.

Yuna Kim landed her first triple jump at the age of 10, and within two years of that, had all her triple jumps.

Yuna Kim landed her first triple-triple combination jump, a triple toe-triple toe, at the age of 14 at the 2005 World Junior Championships.

Yuna Kim was known to practice triple Axels in training.

Yuna Kim did a lot of skating skills development, with Orser's guidance.

Yuna Kim is well known for her signature triple-triple jump combinations including triple Lutz-triple toe loop, and triple flip-triple toe loop.

Yuna Kim can execute a triple Lutz-double toe loop-double loop jump combination.

Yuna Kim personally stated that her favorite jumps are the Lutz, flip, and Axel.

Yuna Kim has received +2.20 grade of execution for the quality of her jumps.

Yuna Kim's programs were often commended for combining musical interpretation with great technique.

When Yuna Kim contacted Wilson again two years later, Sebastien Britten, who had been working on the Junior Grand Prix circuit at the time, strongly recommended her as a skater to Wilson, leading to him accepting her as his student.

Buttle had told him that Yuna Kim was "not a very happy skater", so Wilson made it his mission to make her smile and to connect with her.

Yuna Kim said that acting on the ice was the most important thing for her, and that she loved performing in front of the audience.

Yuna Kim felt classical music fit her and liked to skate to it.

Yuna Kim stated that using traditional Korean music as part of her program was a bit of a risk, because Chinese, Japanese and Korean music could easily sound indistinguishable to a non-Asian audience.

Yuna Kim felt the program was very modern, despite its use of traditional music.

Yuna Kim believed that the international judges did not respond to it.

Yuna Kim played a key role in South Korea winning the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

Originally an ambassador for South Korea's failed 2014 bid, Yuna Kim joined the Olympic Bidding Committee for Pyeongchang, the Korean hosting city.

In October 2011, Yuna Kim was appointed a member of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games Organising Committee.

In October, Yuna Kim was named an ambassador for the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck.

Yuna Kim stated that she hoped to become a member of the IOC after the 2014 Sochi Games.

Yuna Kim was named an official ambassador for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Yuna Kim appeared as the final torch bearer and lit the Olympic flame in the Opening Ceremony.

Yuna Kim co-starred in Coca-Cola's 2018 Winter Olympics campaign with actor Park Bo-gum.

Yuna Kim served as an instructor at the Play Winter Sports Academy in 2021 and 2022, teaching high level skating and presentation skills to develop young figure skaters' talents as part of a project utilising the Pyeongchang facilities.

Yuna Kim shared in a statement that she would aim to promote Olympic values to young people around the world.

Yuna Kim is an ambassador for French fashion house Dior.

Since her retirement, Yuna Kim has continued to dominate the commercial scene and remains an advertising giant in South Korea.

Yuna Kim sang with South Korean band BigBang and rock group Transfixion on the single "The Shouts of Reds Part 2", created for the Korean World Cup soccer team.

On January 28,2010, Yuna Kim published a book, Yuna Kim Yu-na's Seven-Minute Drama, about her experience with figure skating from the age of seven to her preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

In May 2011, Kim began to host a program called Kim Yuna's Kiss and Cry as part of SBS' Good Sunday.

Yuna Kim has received numerous accolades in recognition of her achievements and impact.

Yuna Kim was honored in the sports category at the Republic of Korea National Assembly Awards in 2006, and later received an Achievement Award in 2011.

Yuna Kim was awarded the Talent Medal of Korea in 2008.

Yuna Kim received the Proud Korean Award from the Korean American Leadership Foundation.

Yuna Kim received the Sportswoman of the Year Award from the Women's Sports Foundation later that year.

In 2012, Yuna Kim was awarded the Peony Medal in recognition of her contributions to the 2018 Pyeongchang bid.

Yuna Kim was later awarded the Blue Dragon Medal at the 54th Korea Sports Awards in October 2016.

Yuna Kim was not originally eligible for the honor, having already received a different order less than seven years prior, but an exception was made in light of her achievements.

Yuna Kim became the youngest and only winter sports athlete to be inducted into the Korean Sports Hall of Fame the subsequent month.

Yuna Kim received the Korea Image Cornerstone Award at the 19th Korea Image Awards alongside Lee Jung-jae and Hwang Sun-woo on January 11,2023.

Yuna Kim has been featured in various lists, including the Time 100 and Forbes 30 Under 30.

Yuna Kim was the first person to top the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40, which she did in 2009 and 2010, and appeared in the top 10 on six other occasions.

Yuna Kim is a member of UNICEF's Honors Club, a group for major donors.

Yuna Kim was named an ambassador for the 2010 G-20 Seoul summit alongside actress Han Hyo-joo and soccer player representative Park Ji-sung.

Yuna Kim has funded multiple scholarships for aspiring figure skaters in South Korea, and donated the proceeds from her 2011 duet with IU, "Ice Flower", to the national figure skating team.

Yuna Kim has aided relief efforts in Nepal, Haiti and the Philippines.

On March 7,2022, Yuna Kim donated 100 million won to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to help the victims of the massive wildfire that started in Uljin, Gyeongbuk and spread to Samcheok, Gangwon.

Yuna Kim was selected for the role by the Canadian Embassy in Seoul due to her years spent training in Canada.

Yuna Kim will participate in various activities throughout 2023 to promote the relationship between the two countries.

Yuna Kim will donate the proceeds from the sale of portraits depicting her skating career, painted by David Jamin for his 'Star of Korea' series, to an earthquake relief organization.

Yuna Kim often makes the sign of the cross during competitions and wears a rosary ring.

On July 25,2022, it was confirmed that Yuna Kim would marry singer Ko Woo-rim of Forestella, with whom she had been in a relationship for three years.