%20and%20Lee%20Namu%20(KOR)%20react%20to%20their%20score%20in%20the%20Kiss%20and%20Cry%20following%20their%20performance%20in%20the%20Team%20Event.png)
Ice dancers Kim Jinny (KOR) and Lee Namu (KOR) react to their score following their performance in the Team Event. @OIS/Thomas Lovelock
Hosts Republic of Korea grab Team Event gold in Figure Skating as Gangwon 2024 comes to an end
The Republic of Korea soared to gold in the Figure Skating Team Event on the last day of competition at the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024.
The hosts stood tall, cruising to victory with a total of thirteen points after wonderful performances by Kim Hyungyeom (KOR), Shin Jia (KOR) and ice dancers Kim Jinny/Lee Namu (KOR) on Thursday.
The United States claimed silver with twelve points, with Canada taking bronze after scoring a total of nine at the Gangneung Ice Arena.
It was the first time a Team Event between National Olympic Committees (NOC) featured at a Winter Youth Olympic Games, replacing the Mixed NOC Team Event that was on the slate at previous editions.
“It was a new experience for me. It has a different kind of pressure but I enjoyed it," Kim Hyungyeom said after the Team Event final.
“Only the three highest points are counted, and since we did our best in the three categories, we could win. Jinny and Namu were under pressure, but I think they overcame it.”
Teammate Lee added: “Usually in individual competition, we can’t sit with our teammates. It is a little lonely sometimes. It’s different in the team events. We can cheer and motivate each other. That is the greatest point about team events.”
The podium - Team USA, the Republic of Korea, and Canada - for the Team Event at the Gangneung Ice Arena. @OIS/Thomas Lovelock
Korean figure skaters put rivals on notice
There has been a growing energy around Korean Figure Skating the last few years. At Gangwon 2024, Kim Hyungyeom (KOR) lived up to his billing as Korea’s next Figure Skating star as he glided to gold in the Men’s Singles event.
Kim dazzled the home crowd to post a total score of 216.73 points, fending off silver medalist Adam Hagara (SVK) by half a point. In doing so, the Seoul-based prodigy became the first male Figure Skater from Korea to win a medal in an Olympic event in this sport.
“I was very nervous today but I’m happy that I could produce a clean and good free skate. It’s the first time I’m doing such a big competition in my home country,” Kim said after the final on Monday.
“But I had so many people cheering me on so I was able to do it well.”
The 17-year-old Kim went on to top the scoring in the Men's Free Skate leg of the Team Event as well, with a score of 136.38 points.
Shin gets to take home gold
In the Women’s field, Shin Jia (KOR) is already a household name on the junior circuit. She is the two-time and reigning ISU World Junior silver medalist, and this season won both ISU Junior Grand Prix events she competed in, back in Austria and Hungary.
She arrived in Gangwon looking to show her talents on the Olympic stage, but admitted she struggled to hold her nerve on home ice. In the Women's Singles event, she was not able to put rival Shimada Mao (JPN) under enough pressure to win gold, having to settle for silver instead.
“I was too nervous today. It was fortunate that I didn’t make any big mistakes until the end. I feel really happy to get a medal in front of the home crowd,” Shin said after the final on Tuesday.
“Because I was so nervous, while I was skating, I couldn’t skate smoothly or fast. If I had one more chance, I wish I could do better in that area."
%20celebrates%20in%20the%20Kiss%20and%20Cry%20after%20winning%20the%20Figure%20Skating%20Team%20Event.jpeg)
Shin Jia (KOR) celebrates in the Kiss and Cry after winning the Figure Skating Team Event. @OIS/Thomas Lovelock
Shin bounced back, however, and demonstrated a clean and beautiful skate in the Women's Free Skate leg during the Team Event, setting a personal best with 137.48 points to help the Republic of Korea claim gold in the last event of Figure Skating at Gangwon 2024.
“It was my first time competing in a team event and I was really happy to enjoy it," Shin said.
“I was a bit nervous, but I’m so relieved now to have a good result. It’s fortunate that I had a good performance in front of the home crowd. I feel so happy that we got this gold medal together."
“The Women’s Free Skate was the last category, so I was nervous when I entered the ice, but I think I could enjoy the moment more than in the individual event.”
And with that Gangwon 2024 comes to an end.
