Yu-na’s future still up in the air

By Kim Hyun-cheol

Staff reporter

Despite the applications to compete in this year's Grand Prix tournaments submitted, it still remains to be seen if Kim Yu-na, the Vancouver gold medalist figure skater, will continue her competitive career.

It was confirmed Tuesday that the Korea Skating Union has sent an application for Kim to the International Skating Union (ISU). All That Sports, Kim's agency, however, said it has nothing to do with her future plans.

``It's just a formality for skaters regardless of eligibility, nothing more and nothing less," an official of All That Sports said. Under the ISU regulations, high-ranked athletes should apply each season for the Grand Prix series within due time.

Kim is currently ranked No. 1 in the ISU world rankings.

On the same day, the 20-year-old world's top-ranked skater participated in the launch ceremony of a special athletes' committee to support PyeongChang's 2018 Winter Olympics bid, but declined to comments on the issue.

Kim is supposed to depart for Canada, where she has been training with her coach Brian Orser, on May 31.

The future career of the skating phenomenon has been in question after topping the podium at Vancouver in February.

The Korean skating phenomenon managed to grab a silver medal at the World Championship in Turin, Italy, one month after the Olympics, but one of her worst-ever performances stirred controversy over her intentions to keep competing.