Lee named ambassador for PyeongChang

Speed skater Lee Sang-hwa speaks after being appointed as an honorary ambassador of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics at the Press Center in central Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

Olympic champion speed skater Lee Sang-hwa, 27, has been appointed an honorary ambassador for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the organizing committee announced, Monday.

Speaking at an appointment ceremony, Lee, who is often referred to as the “speed skating empress,” said she is honored to promote Korea’s first-ever Winter Olympics.

“I am honored to have a chance to compete in the first ever Winter Olympics in my country,” Lee said during an appointment ceremony at the Press Center in central Seoul, Monday. “I will put my best efforts into promoting the Olympics as an ambassador and as a speed skater.”

Yeo Hyung-koo, secretary general of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) said appointing Lee as an honorary ambassador is a win-win strategy for both the organizing committee and the speed skater.

“It is a great honor for us to appoint Lee who has become a household name. By winning two gold medals in the past two Olympics, Lee has touched the hearts of Koreans,” Yeo said.

“Also she became a model of hope as she competed in the Games after overcoming her injuries.”

Upon being appointed, Lee will promote the Winter Games by taking part in PyeongChang-related events.

Lee, who holds the world record in the 500-meter event at 36.36 seconds, won her first Olympic gold at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and defended her medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, becoming just the third woman to defend a 500-meter gold medal.

Lee wrapped up the 2015-2016 International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup season fourth in points ranking as she decided not to compete in the final two World Cups to protect her injured knee.

Lee, who has been focusing on her knee injury, now aims for her third gold in the PyeongChang Olympics. In the history of the Olympics, no athlete has achieved such a remarkable milestone except American skater Bonnie Blair who conquered the women’s 500-meter speed skating event three times in a row (1988, 1992 and 1994).

“I have been in rehab so far and I will fly to Canada next month as I did last season,” Lee said.

When asked how she has overcome her knee injury, she answered that she has been focusing on strengthening her muscles around the knee.

“As there is still a bit of a nagging pain in my knee, I have been trying to strength muscles around the knee so that my knee can get more support and reduce the pain,” Lee said.