Korean Figure Skating Team Returns to Olympic Team Event After 8-Year Hiatus Since PyeongChang

International - Ekhbary News Agency

Korean Figure Skating Team Returns to Olympic Team Event After 8-Year Hiatus Since PyeongChang

The South Korean figure skating team arrived in Milan, Italy, on February 5th (Korean time), greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of fans who had gathered at the airport to see them off. This fervent reception underscores the high expectations placed upon this squad, which features prominent names such as Cha Jun-hwan, Kim Hyun-kyum, Shin Ji-a, and Lee Hae-in. Their participation in the figure skating team event marks a significant milestone, as it is South Korea's first entry since the PyeongChang 2018 Games, representing a long-awaited return after an eight-year absence.

The figure skating competition is set to commence on February 6th with the team event, an early start to the Olympic journey. Qualification for the team event necessitates securing Olympic quotas in at least three out of four disciplines: Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Pairs, and Ice Dance. As South Korea does not have a competitive Pairs team, their participation is limited to Singles and Ice Dance. This presents a considerable challenge, as points (1-10) are awarded for each discipline, and the absence of a Pairs entry means zero points in that segment, significantly diminishing South Korea's chances for a medal. Nevertheless, the team's involvement remains highly valuable, offering an invaluable opportunity to acclimatize to the competitive atmosphere and test the ice conditions before the crucial individual events begin.

The team event's Ice Dance Rhythm Dance is scheduled for February 6th at 5:55 PM, featuring the duo Lim Hae-na and Kwan Ye. The pair's story is particularly compelling; Lim Hae-na was born in Canada and holds dual Korean and Canadian citizenship, while Kwan Ye, a Chinese-Canadian, acquired South Korean citizenship in December 2024 through a special naturalization process by the Ministry of Justice specifically to represent Korea at the Olympics. Later that evening, at 9:35 PM, Shin Ji-a will compete in the Women's Singles Short Program for the team event. Cha Jun-hwan, Korea's star male figure skater, will take to the ice for the Men's Singles Short Program on February 8th at 3:45 AM. The competition continues with the Ice Dance Free Program at 6:05 AM, concluding with the Men's and Women's Singles Free Skating events on February 9th.

The Korean figure skating delegation harbors ambitions of achieving a historic feat at these Olympics, striving for an Olympic medal for the first time since Yuna Kim's silver medal at the Sochi 2014 Games, a span of 12 years. Following Kim Yuna's retirement, South Korea's best performances in singles were Cha Jun-hwan's 5th place in men's and Yoo Young's 6th place in women's at Beijing 2022. Both Cha Jun-hwan and Kim Hyun-kyum in the men's competition, and Shin Ji-a and Lee Hae-in in the women's, aspire to surpass these records and achieve even greater accomplishments.

Cha Jun-hwan, who has experienced both the PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Olympics, has prepared extensively for this season, even making last-minute changes to his free skating program to enhance his medal prospects. He demonstrated excellent form at last month's International Skating Union Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, recording his season's best scores in both the free skating and overall total. In an airport interview, Cha Jun-hwan expressed his determination, stating, "I will compete in both the team event and the individual event at these Olympics. I will show my own unique weapon (strength)."

Shin Ji-a, who has earned silver medals at the World Junior Championships for four consecutive years from 2022 to 2025, has emerged as a 'next-generation Yuna Kim.' She secured her Olympic qualification by ranking first overall in the first and second rounds of the national winter Olympic trials. Shin Ji-a shared her preparation strategy, saying, "I'm doing a lot of image training to overcome tension." Lee Hae-in is a highly experienced skater who won a gold medal at the Four Continents Championships in 2023, becoming the first Korean to do so in 14 years since Yuna Kim. She placed fifth at last month's Four Continents Championships, demonstrating her consistent performance and high competitiveness.

Ekhbary News Agency