by REERA YOO
Former Olympic figure skater Kim Yuna was named an honorary ambassador for the 2018 Winter Olympics held in Pyeongchang, the first South Korean host of the quadrennial competition.
Kim, 24, became South Korea’s first Olympic figure skating gold medalist at the 2010 Vancouver Games and ended her decorated career after winning silver at Sochi earlier this year. Often called “Queen Yuna” by her fans, Kim is South Korea’s most popular sporting figure and has appeared in numerous commercials. Her current net worth is estimated to be $21 million.
According to Yonhap, Kim was one of the key figures who helped Pyeongchang win the bid for the 2018 Games by giving an impressive presentation at the International Olympic Committee session in Durban, South Africa in 2011.
“As a former winter sports athlete and a South Korean citizen, I am very pleased to be able to contribute to the organizing of the Winter Games in my country,” Kim said in a statement on Tuesday. “I worked with the bidding committee three years ago, and I still vividly remember the moment Pyeongchang won the bid. I look forward to an exciting venture with the organizing committee going forward.”
Cho Yang-ho, head of Pyeongchang’s Winter Games organizing committee, said that the committee has high expectations of Kim and believes her new position as honorary ambassador will ensure South Korea’s first Winter Olympics to be a success.
“As an athlete, Kim dominated her sport with confidence and audacity,” Cho said. “I hope her international experience can translate into her activities as our honorary ambassador, and she will be the face of Pyeongchang in international events promoting the Olympics.”
Preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympics are underway, including the construction on six of the 13 competition venues.
Kim currently holds the world record for the highest ladies’ free skate score (150.06 points) and combined total score (228.56). She had set each world record three times and never finished a competition off the podium throughout her entire career.
___
Photo courtesy of Queen Yuna/Flickr
