Biography: Kim Yu-Na

Kim Yu-Na of South Korea is more than the reigning world champion in figure skating and more than the hands down favorite to win the gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver - she is a national hero. Even saying that is an understatement as she has gone beyond rock star status to perhaps be the most recognizable figure in her country. What makes that amazing is "Queen Yu-Na" as she is known at home did all that before she was 18 years old.

Born on the fifth of November 1990, Yu-Na (Kim is the family surname) in Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do where she lived until she was six. A year later after her family relocated to Gunpo she began figure skating. It was hardly easy as ice time was at a premium not only financially but for any kids to just get on the ice during the day. She loved skating and her family wanted her to skate, but it was a very different situation than kids in Europe or North America were in when it came to being able to practice. At that time in korea the kids that wanted to skate on a regular basis mostly had to do so at night. Had her coach Ryu Jong-Hyeon not almost all but promised she had everything it took to not just be a world class figure skater but a world champion her skating days may have ended right there.

When Yu-Na was ten she landed her first successful triple jump. There were people that were a few years older with more experience that still couldn't do that. By 2002 all the hours and sacrifices began bearing fruit when she won the Triglav Trophy at her first international competition. From that day on there was no more speculating she had what it took, it was just a question of how fast world dominance would come. By the time she was 14 she was some believe the best at landing triple jumps in the world - and not just in the juniors division - but including people twice her age. She already began landing the triple toe loop, triple toe loop triple toe loop combination (which is insane at that age), triple lutz, and the amazing triple flip triple toe loop.

It wasn't just the jumps that separated Yu-Na from everyone else, it was her speed. She could generate so much speed on her spins and during her routine in general that she was a blur. Nobody could keep up with her and some coaches swore she was faster than some speed skaters her age if put in a head to head race.

By 2006 it was obvious to everyone including her coach that she was special enough she needed training beyond what was available to her at home.