Teen figure skater leans on self-belief to grab Four Continents title in Seoul
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- In many ways, South Korean figure skater Kim Chae-yeon is no different than many other athletes. She has bouts of self-doubt at times, worrying if she will fall to the ice on her next jump or if she will botch her next step sequence.
In recent weeks, however, the 18-year-old has learned how to trust herself more, if only little by little. And that growing belief helped carry Kim to the top of the podium in the women's singles at the International Skating Union (ISU) Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at Mokdong Ice Rink in Seoul on Sunday.
Kim established new personal best scores across the board, earning 74.02 points in the short program and 148.36 points in the free skate for 222.38 points overall. Kim beat Bradie Tennell of the United States by 18 points, the largest winning margin at the Four Continents in nine years.
Kim won this Four Continents title just 10 days after winning gold at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, where she posted an overall score of 219.44 points to beat three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto and set her personal best at a non-ISU competition.
Kim said Sunday the confidence she had gained in Harbin went a long way in Seoul.
"Whenever I take the ice, I try my hardest to trust myself," Kim said. "From time to time, I worry that I might fall on the next jump. More recently, though, I tell myself, 'I can do this. I just have to do what I've practiced all along.'"
Kim said winning gold medals in consecutive weeks -- and doing so with personal-high scores no less -- has been a career-changing experience.
"Over these past two events, I've learned how to shake off nerves and focus on what I have to do on the ice," Kim added. "I've become more confident now. I feel like my hard work has been paid off at these two events. I think I can get even better if I can keep at it."
After a whirlwind of a February, Kim said she will take one or two days off to rest and recover, before shifting her focus to the ISU world championships next month in Boston. She is the 2024 worlds bronze medalist and will be regarded as a medal threat again this time.
"I know I will probably get nervous once I take the ice at the world championships, but I also feel that I should be able to perform with confidence," Kim said. "I will try to keep my focus on the task at hand and hopefully, I will have a better result than last year."
The soft-spoken teenager showed a perfectionist side on Sunday. Though Kim landed all of her jumps cleanly and earned the top levels for her spins and steps, she said she was not entirely satisfied with her free skate.
"I was a bit shaky with my spins, and I didn't have the same quality with my jumps that I usually have in training," she said. "I blame that on jitters. I will keep putting in the work and try to find areas where I can improve my quality."
Kim sheepishly explained she didn't appear all that overjoyed when her score was announced because her left calf had cramped up toward the end of the program.
"Believe me, I was really happy. It just didn't show on my face," Kim said with a smile.
Kim was ear to ear when asked about her costume, designed by her mother.
"It means the world to me to be able to say my mom designed my costume," Kim added. "I am really happy to have skated in this costume."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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