Writings

April 8, 2007. Yu-Na's Cyworld ( Originally translated by shoulders100 at FSU, YNKF )

It was really a difficult season..

The endless string of injuries never seemed to leave me alone and it was really frustrating. Some people said I was making up excuses.. but there was nothing I could do with all the injuries actually being there..

During the whole summer pain has never left my knee.. not even a single day.. for five months that was. It hurt even when I walked.. and prevented me from doing the running. When I thought my knee was finally feeling better.. this time it was the ankle.. and when the ankle healed my back got into trouble. My back still hasn't fully recovered yet.. but it did get a lot better.. but please not again.. another injury in the tailbone? It was really turning me sick..

Result-wise.. this season.. which marked my first appearance in the senior scene.. was truly a success.. in fact.. I think it was too magnificent for my debut. For the whole season, I wasn't able to get enough training.. I was lacking physical strength.. and not well prepared going in to the competitions.. and yet the results were extremely good.. better than I had ever imagined.

I can only say I was truly lucky. Actually during the Grand-Prix Finals, not only did I never thought I could win it, but even felt it might be better not to win.. because though the moment of winning may be sweet, the pressure to maintain your status afterwards was certainly going to be tough.

But heading to the Worlds, I didn't even feel any kind of pressure.. because my situation then was so bad I had already given up my own expectations.. feeling pressure was only a luxury to those who see themselves as contenders..

When I heard I have set a new record after finishing the short, I thought I just might be lucky again.. and indeed it turned out lucky I was.. since I won a medal..

The fact alone that I was able to finish my programs without withdrawal was a huge fortune for me, and medalling through it was just a miracle.

When I was young, I had never thought I could ever come this far. In fact, I still can't believe it even now.. that the podium, which I used to see only on TV in my childhood, was where I stood, and my country's flag was waving in front of me..

People tell me not to be upset that I fell twice in the long program and dropped down to the 3rd.. but I actually feel quite relieved that I didn't win, since now I have a place to climb up. Had I won this worlds, it is quite possible that I go downhill due to the pressure I'll receive, and I don't want to let that happen. I came up to where I am through hard work, and I don't want to go down again. I'd rather climb up step by step, slowly but steadily.

Looking back on this season, despite the good results, I still have some regrets.. I lacked good preparation going to the events and had to rely on luck and miracles.. Next season I wish to have thorough and complete preparation so that I can compete with confidence, and be judged by my own effort rather than luck.

My sincere thanks to all of those who had encouraged me, and wished me good luck.

Good bye, season 06-07……

May 8, 2009, translation by Abyss @ Feverskating.com, Donga.com, YNKF

“Connecting with the audience is first, the color of the medal is next”

In two days I will be going back to Toronto to prepare for the next season. I feel a bit sorry that my vacation has come to an end so quickly; the memory of winning at the Worlds is still so vivid inside my mind. I was satisfied with everything last season, I was free from injury and I won the World Championships. The ice show, which was a means to give back to the fans, was a success.

While I was in Korea, a lot of people asked me about the Olympics. The Olympic gold is every athlete's dream. I get excited and at the same time nervous just thinking about it. The Vancouver Olympics will be the first time I compete at the Olympic Games as I was too young to participate at the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics. I was born 2 months late to participate. People sometimes joke “You should have asked your mother to have given birth 2 months earlier”.

Vancouver is familiar to me as I won the 4CCs held in February, which was in a way a pre-Olympic competition. Nonetheless even if Vancouver is familiar to me, I believe that it will be my physical condition and my performance which will matter. Time to time I receive questions about how sure I am of winning the Olympic gold during interviews. People offer words of encouragement, “You will win the gold medal at the Olympics next year.” However whenever I hear those words, I think back to why I started figure skating in the first place. It was not to win an Olympic gold medal, but it was because skating was so much fun and because I thought Michelle Kwan was so beautiful and I wanted to be like her. There are times when I forget this, like when I am drained after training or when I feel pressure about the results of a competition. My coach, Brian Orser is usually a man of few words but he always tells me before a competition, “Nobody can win you if you skate with joy and happiness.”

The figure skating I know is not a battle between nations or skaters. It is not a lone battle that I fight alone, either. Of course I know I am still in the process of learning of what figure skating is. But to me, the most important aspect in figure skating is connecting with the audience. So I hope that it will be my music and my performance that give you joy and happiness in February next year, not the color of the medal.

I will leave for Toronto on the 10th. As always I will prepare music and choreography for a new program. It is impossible not to think about the Olympics but I will focus on presenting a good program for you around the end of October when the new season starts. Keep your fingers crossed for me as I prepare myself to start another new journey. I will do my best to show you an even better performances and programs. Thank you.

Translation by BelleFilleYuna ( YNKF )

Why have I been worried so much, why have I gotten so fearful….
I had to go through so many uneasiness in my mind
thinking what if I fail at Worlds when I want it so much
Even though I was doing fine and I had confidence to do so,
I used to fear for the uncertainties my future holds for me.
However I think I could get it off a bit this time.
It feels as though I'm accomplishing my goals as I've envisioned it in my mind.
one step and then another…like climbing up to the place where I want to be
the moment that I realize my past hardships and sufferings were all for myself, here in present time.

Thank you.

Official message posted on yunakim.com (Translated by Realdeal, YNKF )

Hello Everyone ^^

As you all know, last February 25th was the one year anniversary of achieving my Olympic dream. Clap, clap, clap!

Although in Korean time, it was the 26th… It seems time flies reee~~ally fast. kuku [chuckling onomatopoeia]

Even today, when I think of that moment carefully, I often feel it's unreal.

When will I be able to take in for real? kukukuk [or “kekeke” depending how you interpret her laughter]

The past year has been hectic and busy 365 days. hehe

World Championship is approaching soon and, after a while, you'll be finally able to see me on the ice !

Sorry for making you wait for so long. [cute teary face emoticon]

[For the long wait,] I'll do my best and visit [see] you soon. [This line is particularly tough to translate literally but the core meaning is there.]

See you in a month^^ poof! [Onomatopoeia for disappearing]