Yu Na Kim

Yu Na Kim (김연아) was born on 5 September, 1990, in Bucheon, South Korea. She is the 2009 and reigning world champion, 2009 Four Continents Champion, two-time Grand Prix Final Champion (06/07, 07/08), and five-time South Korean National Champion. She has made history in many ways. She is the first South Korean to medal or win at an ISU Championship. She holds the highest ever scores for women under the ISU judging system in the short program, free program, and combined overall score. Her personal bests are 76.12 for short program, 133.70 for free program, and 207.71 for combined overall score. She was the first female skater ever to crack the 200 point barrier at the 2009 World Championships. Mao Asada achieved this goal a month later at the World Team Trophy, being the only other female skater to crack 200 points.

Yu Na is very popular in South Korea and is one of their most highly recognized athletes and celebreties. She is very close to her family of father, mother, and older sister Ae Ra. Yu Na always has beautiful costume and music selections. Her trademark moves are her personalized Yu Na Camel spin position and her highflying triple-triple combinations.

Yu Na left Korea in 2006 to train for a time in Canada under 1988 Olympic silver medalist Brian Orser. The training environment was much better for Yu Na in Toronto than it had been in crowded and media-crazed South Korea. Yu Na was happy in Canada and asked Brian Orser to be her full time coach. Ever since, the two have been working together and have achieved exceptional results.

Yu Na Kim is currently training for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver, Canada. Good luck in summer training Yu Na, and good luck going for 2010 Olympic Gold!