Moms Prayers Give Queen Strength

4 minutes in heaven: It was four minutes that had virtually all Koreans holding their breath ? watching Kim Yu-na perform her long program on her way to winning Korea’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s figure skating at the Vancouver Games Friday. Some clapped intermittently, perhaps to ease tension knowing that one miss could cost Yu-na and the nation the precious gold. At the end of the four long minutes, she was not just the “Queen of the Ice” but the holder of a new world record. A crowd celebrates the victorious Yu-na, right, in front of a television at Seoul Station.

By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

While 19-year-old Kim Yu-na was twirling on the ice rink to win the gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics, her mother Park Mi-hee wasn't watching. She remained in the corridor leading to the rink with her husband, her eyes closed as she prayed the whole time.

When Kim shed tears after a convincing long program, Park cried too. Park, 51, is indisputably the No.1 contributor to Kim's phenomenal success.

The mother, who was interested in skating and dreamt of becoming a painter, literally gave all she had to her enthusiastic and rare-talented daughter. Since Kim first clapped eyes on skates at the age of six, Park has dedicated everything to her daughter, playing multiple roles from mother to spokeswoman, manager, coach and mentor.

She drove her to and from the ice rink every day, and searched for the best coaches to train her. She played English cassette tapes in the car to help Yu-na become familiar with English. When she wanted to fire her Korean coach and hire Brain Orser, Park undertook the task. She confronted the press and shielded her daughter from any negative response.

But most of all, Park should be credited for "discovering Kim Yu-na."

During interviews, Park said she had instantly noticed that Kim was "something," when they visited a public ice rink in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, 13 years ago.

When Kim told her that she wanted to skate for life, instead of telling her to do something or scholastic," Park promised her full support.

Without a sponsor to support the then barely recognized sport here, money to pay for the skating rink, coaches, travel and training was always a problem. When her husband's business wasn't going well enough to support Kim's schedule, she put her house up as collateral to the bank to pay for Kim's lesson fees.

Even when her daughter gained international fame, she stood by her, making sure she stayed calm.
"It was always about mom. She always understood me and encouraged me," Kim said in a previous interview.

But Park had guts too. When the skater muttered that she wanted to quit the sport several years ago, Park accepted it. "I knew she would come back and do it. But if I tried to resist her, Yu-na wouldn't have made her own choice, which is the only way to push herself," she said in her book released last year.

Additionally, if it hadn't been for Kim Hyeon-seok, her husband, Yu-na would have never made it to the podium.

Kim, who runs his own business, has always remained out of the media limelight. He has reportedly never accompanied his daughter to international competitions.

Instead, he watched her win medal after medal on TV at home with his eldest daughter Ae-ra during Park and Yu-na's absence, nine months of the year.

On Thursday, the father made it to the games and stayed with his wife in the corridor when his daughter became a grand slam champion.

The skating champion acknowledged the sacrifice and devotion of her parents.

"I am so glad dad was able to make it here. I thank mom and dad for all of this," Kim said in an interview held right after her performance.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr

Site Map E-paper Subscribe Register LogIn
Site Map E-paper Subscribe Register LogIn