South Korean figure skater Kim Yuna

South Korean figure skater Kim Yuna (Kim Yun-a) is the first representative of South Korea, who has achieved much success in figure skating in the international arena, as well as the first skater possessed all the highest titles she won at the Olympic Games, World Championship, four continents and the Grand Prix Final. Beautiful ice dancer Kim Yuna, as one of the best female figure skaters in the world, is nicknamed “Queen Yuna”. Currently, she is the most privileged athlete and media figure in South Korea.

Born 5 September 1990 in the city of Bucheon, Gyeonggi, Kim began skating at the age of 5. Her first coach Jong-Hyeon Ryu predicted that she would become a world-class figure skater in the future. At age 11, Kim won the first international tournament for children – Triglav Trophy in Slovenia. Aged 12, she became the youngest winner of the adult championship in South Korea. And the same year she won her second international tournament – the Golden Bear in Croatian Zagreb.

Next three years, Kim continues to win the championship in South Korea. In 2005, Kim Yun A becomes the second on the World Junior Championships, and in 2006 she was the first. In 2006, the Olympic Games were held in Turin, but then Kim was still too young to participate in them.

Before the 2006-2007 season, in which Kim was preparing to begin to act on the international level. She won the bronze at the first world championship in 2007, the same result she repeated in 2008.

In 2008, Kim Yun-a, like her mother, was baptized to the Catholic faith, taking the Christian name of Stella. In 2009, she entered the University of Korea, and took up the study of physical culture.

In 2010, Kim Yun-a was among the ten highest paid athletes of the world, rated magazine Forbes. She took fifth place ranking with revenue 9.7 million. Basic income received from advertising contracts with Hyundai, Nike and Samsung Electronics. Kim Yun-a $59,300 to a Catholic charity, for building 100 schools in South Sudan.

Noteworthy, baptized in 2008, after the severe skating injuries, a Catholic doctor gave her Christian name Stella. According to Kim, Stella comes from ‘Stella Maris”, meaning Our Lady, Star of the Sea, an ancient title of The Blessed Virgin Mary. That’s why she makes the Sign of the Cross and wears a rosary ring during competitions.

South Korean figure skater Kim Yuna

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