“I’ll Star in an Advertisement? I Can’t Believe It!”

“I hope to do well next month at the Winter Asian Games and at the World Figure Skating Championships next March.”

Kim Yu-na (16, Gunpo Suri High School), who finished first in the senior Grand Prix of Figure Skating final, has already set her eyes on the next competition.

Kim Yu-na entered Korea through the Incheon International Airport on December 19 with her mother Park Mi-hee and her coach Park Bun-seon with a happy expression. She said, “When they announced my results, my mind went blank, and I couldn’t think of anything.”

“Actually my back suddenly hurt, and it was really hard for me. I can practice somewhat if my knees or ankles are hurt, but if my back is hurting, I can’t practice at all. Because of the lack of practice, right before I left for Russia on December 13, I couldn’t coordinate my actions perfectly to the music for the free skating portion.”

But her strong mentality took effect during the competition. As her performance started, she forgot her pain.

On her Japanese rival, Mao Asada (16), she said, “We met for the first time this season, and I’m pleased and also a little apologetic that I won.”

Kim Yu-na continued, “During the official practices, Asada and the others were so good that I felt a little deflated. On the short program on the first day I ranked third, which was why I didn’t even expect first place,” and added, “It was perhaps better that I didn’t feel the pressure.”

On the reasons for her strength in the large-scale competition, she said, “If I enter an important competition, there are many people who are better than me, which is why I feel that ‘I should step up my performance’. Replaying the actions in my head before a game helps alleviate my anxiety.”

Having signed an advertisement contract with KB Bank before leaving Russia, Kim Yu-na smiled and said, “It’s the first time I’m doing this, and it sounds fun. I can’t believe I’ll star in an advertisement.”

kimsk@donga.com