Impact of Yuna Kim

Yuna Kim, the retired South Korean competitive figure skater, also called "Queen Yuna" by figure skating fans and the press, has had an impact on the sport of figure skating, with her skating technique as an athlete and as an Olympic ambassador for both the 2014 and 2018 Olympic Winter Games. She was known for the "lighter-than-air grace in her movements on the ice",^[1] as well as her jumps, her speed, and her grounding in the demands of the ISU judging system, as well as her execution of her triple Lutz-triple toe loop combination jump, her "signature" layover camel spin (called the "Yuna Camel"),^[2] and her Ina Bauer jump. She trained with several coaches in her career, including Jong-hyun, Brian Orser, and Peter Oppegard. Her main choreographer was David Wilson, who helped her with her presentation skills and musicality. Kim was plagued with injuries throughout her career, which her training team tried to address, especially in the years leading up to the 2014 Olympics.

Kim was praised by reporters and by other members of the figure skating community for her artistry; she had "no rival in terms of artistry"^[3] and music was as important a part of her skating as her elements were. As early as 2005, it was reported that Kim's success boosted the popularity of figure skating in South Korea, where she was called "Queen Yuna".^[4][5] In 2010, she was the highest paid athlete at the 2014 Olympics. Her rivalry with Japanese skater Mao Asada was called "the best thing going in skating these days".^[6]

Kim was instrumental in bringing the Olympics to Pyeongchang in 2018 and has been involved with the International Olympic Committee since 2010. She has received numerous awards and honours, and has been featured in several lists, including the Time 100 in 2010 and in Forbes lists between 2010 and 2018.