Monday, July 02, 2012
Korean skater Kim to end career after Sochi
By Jane Chung
(Reuters) - South Korean Kim Yu-na will make a final bid to retain her gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics before quitting, the figure skater said on Monday ending months of speculation on her retirement.
The 21-year-old, one of South Korea's most recognisable sporting figures, won gold with a record total of 228.56 points in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics but has barely competed since then.
"I have decided to retire after the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia," Kim told reporters in Seoul.
"Although I wanted to end my career at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics during my adolescent years, I have decided to make a fresh new start to round off my career, by extending my final destination to Sochi Winter Olympics 2014."
Kim competed in the world championships in April last year where she finished second, burdened with what she described as the pressures of training and high expectations from fans.
Short of competition, Kim said her focus would now be on improving her physical strength and performance in training sessions.
(Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
- Singapore Open: Chong Wei Feng fights to survive
- Paul Revington is glad to be back to train the Malaysian team
- Khairy: RM8mil to be forked out for Sukma due to lack of sponsorship
- Steady as Jie goes
- Future looks gloomy for men’s squash when Beng Hee calls it a day
- Gavin Green confident he can take on title-holders this weekend
- Heat edge Spurs in overtime to force Game 7 in NBA Finals
- Nadal seeded a dangerous fifth for Wimbledon
- Heavy task on Faizal’s shoulders
- Woods out of action until British Open due to elbow strain
- North fitness lifts Lions for first Test
- Heat edge Spurs in overtime to force Game 7 in NBA Finals
- US and Jamaican sprinters ready for World Championships
- Ferrer loses title after opening round loss
- Injured Blake withdraws from Jamaican meet
- Steady as Jie goes
- MGF set wheels in motion to unearth young talents
- Rahul survives weekend of harsh hurdles in Norfolk
- A chance for local cyclists to shine
- Khairy: RM8mil to be forked out for Sukma due to lack of sponsorship
RSS
