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Figure Skating Queen`s Dad Talks About His Daughter

Posted August. 17, 2009 08:12,   

한국어

When world figure skating champion Kim Yu-na finished her three-day ice show yesterday, her father Kim Hyeon-seok, 52, saw all three shows.

He said he has had little time to see his daughter because of her tight schedule. “It`s tough enough now but family sacrifice is what it takes to make a figure skater like Yu-na,” he said.

Since the family had not been together for four years, rumors surfaced about a divorce. “I heard about the rumor and that’s why I try to show up as often as possible,” he said smiling.

Kim Yu-na entered Korea University this year. Her father also talked about her marriage.

“Now that she`s become an adult, I’m thinking about her marriage,” he said. “Since she spends a lot of time with foreigners, I wonder if she will marry a foreigner,” he said laughing.

On her retirement plan, Kim Hyun-suk said, “I`d like to bring my family together. I think about having her retire as early as possible so that she has a normal life. Not anyone can practice for more than 10 years, but the decision is fully hers to make.”

He also expressed worry over the future of figure skating in Korea. “Domestic figure skating still lacks good infrastructure,” he said. “A figure skating rink has to be built as soon as possible. How can more world-class skaters be made in an environment where skaters have to practice very early in the morning or very late at night?”



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