Kim staked her life on a figure she stumbled upon in the fifth grade. This is the story of Kim Chae-yeon, who is following in the footsteps of 'figure queen' Kim Yeon-ah, who was fascinated by the feeling of cutting the wind. Six years ago, she was just a student taking lessons in a hobby class, but after winning a silver medal in her debut at the Senior Grand Prix, she became the future of Korean figure skating.

Kim's voice was filled with joy after she won a valuable silver medal at Skate Canada, the second event of the International Ice Skating Union (ISU) Senior Grand Prix for the 2023-2024 season, which concluded in Vancouver, Canada, on March 29 (KST).

"If I didn't go to the rink as a field trip at school, I don't know what I would have done with my life," Kim said. "The feeling of jumping in the wind is indescribable. I feel like I was born to do figure somehow," she laughs.

Regardless of the sport, it's not always easy for a junior athlete to excel at the senior level. The number of competitors is unparalleled and the skill level is a step up.

This was not the case for Kim Chae-yeon. She handled the nerves perfectly and became only the third Korean athlete ever to medal in her Senior Grand Prix debut, joining Kim Yeon-ah and Yoo Young. "I didn't expect to finish second in my Senior Grand Prix debut. The feeling is indescribable," said Kim, "and it feels great to be the record holder. I will use this tournament as a springboard to continue to grow as a player." 카지노사이트

What makes this silver medal so remarkable is that Kim has only been competing in figure for six years. While many of today's top athletes began figure skating before elementary school, Kim decided to pursue the sport when she was in sixth grade and competed in official competitions in sixth grade.

She attributes her rapid growth to her natural ability to skate. "The first day I put on my figure skates, I was asked if I was really doing it for the first time," Kim says, "and I moved so naturally on the ice.

"The first day I put on my figure skates, I was asked if it was my first time," she said. "I think my body senses are a little better than others, so I gritted my teeth and worked hard to catch up with my peers who were one or two steps ahead of me. It's an honest sport where you get better as you work harder," she explained.

Kim Chae-yeon has a special someone who helps her on the field. Her mother, Lee Jung-ah, makes her figure clothes. "I feel good just wearing it because my mom made it with care," Kim said. "It helps me focus on my figure, and I'm not satisfied with where I am right now, but I'm going to keep improving."

Kim is determined to continue her upward trajectory as the fifth Grand Prix begins in Espoo, Finland on April 17, with a spot in the final possible depending on her performance.

"Finishing in the top 10 at the second Grand Prix gave me the confidence to know that I can do it at the senior level," said Kim. "I want to be on the podium again and qualify for the Final. I will believe in myself and give 100% on the ice, just like I have been doing so far."

Kim, who is ranked 11th in the ISU Women's World Rankings for the 2023-2024 season, has been working hard to develop a special move to help her reach the next level. It's a triple axel. The triple axel jump, which involves three and a half rotations in the air, is a challenging skill. Still, Kim wants to add it to her program because of the large base score it can earn.

"I'm sweating profusely inside and outside the stadium to execute the triple axel jump," Kim said. "If I can reduce my mistakes and improve the perfection of my current technique, I think I can become a top 10 or top 5 competitor. I will never stop challenging myself to play at a higher level than I am now."

She also revealed that she is practicing to let go of the pressure on the field. "I'm trying to get rid of the bad habit of worrying about things that haven't happened yet and think positively, 'I can do it,'" Kim said. "I do figure because it's fun, so I'll try to enjoy it more in the future."