You’ve seen the videos. That 19-year-old girl in the cobalt blue dress, eyes sharp, landing jumps that looked more like she was hovering than skating. It’s been well over a decade since the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, yet search for Kim Yuna today and the internet still goes into a collective meltdown. People aren't just nostalgic; they're obsessed.
Honestly, the sport of figure skating hasn't quite been the same since she hung up her skates. There’s a specific kind of "Yuna-sized" hole in the ice that no amount of quadruple jumps has been able to fill.
What Made Her So Different?
Most skaters are either technical machines or artistic performers. You rarely get both in one person. Kim was the exception. She didn't just "do" a triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination; she launched it with the kind of speed that made other skaters look like they were moving through molasses.
But it wasn't just the jumps. It was the "Ina Bauer" transition right into a double Axel. It was the way she carved the ice. Reporters at the time literally said she "carved the ice like a calligrapher." That's not just hyperbole. Her edges were so deep and clean that experts still use her 2010 "Gershwin" program as a textbook for how to actually skate, not just jump.
The 2014 Sochi Scandal: What Actually Happened
If you want to start a fight in a figure skating forum, just mention the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Basically, Kim was the reigning champion and the heavy favorite. She skated a clean, hauntingly beautiful program to "Send in the Clowns."
📖 Related: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
Then, she lost.
She took silver behind Russia’s Adelina Sotnikova. The world lost its mind. Over 1.5 million people signed a petition demanding an inquiry. Why? Because while Sotnikova had a slightly higher technical base value, Kim's execution was, for lack of a better word, perfect.
"The scores are given by the judges so I’m not in the right position to comment... the most important thing for me was to take part," Kim said afterward.
That quote tells you everything you need to know about her. She was classy when the rest of the world was screaming. Even now, in 2026, fans still debate the "Sochi Robbery," but Kim herself moved on years ago. She has this "it is what it is" energy that makes her even more of a legend.
👉 See also: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
The Training That Broke (and Made) Her
Success like that doesn't just happen. It was brutal. In her early years, South Korea didn't even have dedicated figure skating rinks. Can you imagine? A future Olympic gold medalist had to wait until the public rinks closed at 10 PM just to get on the ice. She’d be out there training until 1 or 2 in the morning in freezing cold temperatures because the heat was turned off to save money.
She dealt with chronic back pain and hip injuries that would have sidelined anyone else. By the time she moved to Toronto to train with Brian Orser in 2007, she was going through six pairs of boots a year because her jumps were so powerful they were literally crushing the leather.
Life After the Rink
What is she doing now? It's a question that keeps her trending. As of early 2026, Kim Yuna is essentially the unofficial face of South Korea. She married singer Go Woo-rim in 2022, and while she stays relatively private, her influence hasn't dipped an inch.
She’s not just a retired athlete. She’s a "CF Queen" (commercial film). If you walk through Seoul today, her face is on everything from Dior handbags to high-end refrigerators. But it’s not just about the money. She’s been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010 and gave away her entire prize money from the 2011 World Championships to victims of the Japanese earthquake.
✨ Don't miss: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
Why the "Queen Yuna" Title Sticks
The most impressive stat about her career isn't the gold medal. It’s the fact that she never finished off the podium. Not once. In her entire professional career, through every injury and every bad judging night, she was always first, second, or third. That kind of consistency is unheard of in a sport where one slip on a patch of ice can ruin a four-year cycle.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Athletes
If you're looking to learn from the "Yuna Kim way," here’s how to apply her mindset to your own life or sport:
- Quality Over Quantity: Kim didn't need ten different types of triple jumps to win. She perfected the ones she had until they were undeniable. Mastery beats variety every time.
- Master the Transitions: In life and business, it’s not just about the big "jumps" (the big wins). It’s about the "skating" in between. How you handle the periods between milestones defines your overall quality.
- Grace Under Fire: Whether it was the pressure of an entire nation or the controversy of 2014, Kim remained composed. Silence and performance are often the loudest responses to critics.
- Invest in the Core: Her off-ice training focused heavily on core strength and ballet. This gave her the stability to land jumps that others crashed on. Build your foundation before you try to fly.
Kim Yuna didn't just win medals; she changed the DNA of her sport. She proved that you could be a powerhouse and a poet at the same time. While the record books might show different names on the gold medals in years to come, there will only ever be one Queen of the ice.