However, there is another figure skating prodigy being molded in South Korea, who may well take Kim Yuna's place! 17-year-old Park So Youn, whose beginnings lie in ballet, is making headlines for following closely in the footsteps of her lauded predecessor.
Though Park is dubbed the 'the next Kim Yuna,' the title doesn't quite suit the fledgling athlete. The young skater, who is currently being coached by Kim Yuna herself, is still busy mastering the techniques of figure skating and developing her own color. Both Kim and Peter Krick, the sport manager of the International Skating Union, said Park needs more confidence in her ability. Krick further noted that Park is a "great Korean skater, but not a copy of Yu-Na."
Park seems determined to make a name for herself, and not be stuck under Kim Yuna's shadow. In CNN's 'Human to Hero,' She said, "I think the hardest part about figure skating is the technical aspect. Every jump is difficult but to raise the probability of success, the only thing I can do is practice harder so I'm practicing hard."
Despite her young age, Park is not without some accomplishments under her belt. Having been on the national team since the age of 13, the skater placed 21st at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and was conferred the national champion title at the 2015 Korea Figure Skating Championships held early this year. She was the runner-up for four consecutive years at the nationals, placing just behind Kim Yuna for the past two. Park said, "After going through big experiences such as participating at the Olympics and the world championship, I think I gained a bit of confidence."
With enough practice and more confidence, Park may be the skater to represent Korea in the 2018 Winter Olympics, to take place in Pyeongchang.
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