Korean Figure Skating Championship Highlights Generational Shift Ahead of 2026 Olympics
The KB Financial 80th National Figure Skating Championships concluded on the 6th, showcasing a significant generational shift in Korean figure skating. This event also served as the second selection round for the national team competing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, where athletes such as Shin Ji-a (18) and Lee Hae-in (21) in womens singles, as well as Cha Jun-hwan (25) and Kim Hyun-gyeom (20) in mens singles, successfully passed the final hurdles towards Olympic qualification.
One of the most notable developments was the impressive performance of junior skaters. In the womens singles, 17-year-old Kim Yu-seong, born in 2009, recorded a total score of 212.83 points, securing second place and outperforming senior competitors. The margin between her and first-place winner Shin Ji-a, who scored 219.89 points, was just 7.06 points. Kim Yu-seong is the twin sister of Kim Yu-jae (17), who placed second in the first selection round. Another promising junior, Heo Ji-yoo (15), born in 2011, finished third with a score of 200.73 points. In the mens singles, Seo Min-kyu (18) and Choi Ha-bin (17) followed Cha Jun-hwan, taking second and third places respectively, marking their presence in the competition.
For the upcoming Olympics, Korea has secured two spots each for mens and womens singles, along with one spot for ice dance. The Korea Skating Union will determine the Olympic representatives by combining the scores from the first and second selection rounds held in November last year and the recent competition. Due to the International Skating Unions age criteria (born before July 2008), promising skaters like Kim Yu-seong and Kim Yu-jae unfortunately did not qualify for the Olympics, but they have shown hope for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the Alps, France.
A common thread among the junior skaters who outperformed their senior counterparts is that they are all recipients of the KB Financial Figure Dream Fund Scholarship. Since 2015, KB Financial has selected ten promising athletes each year under the age of 14 to receive a total scholarship of 50 million won. To date, the total financial support has reached 500 million won, going beyond mere sports sponsorship to foster growth and development in young athletes.
One of the most notable developments was the impressive performance of junior skaters. In the womens singles, 17-year-old Kim Yu-seong, born in 2009, recorded a total score of 212.83 points, securing second place and outperforming senior competitors. The margin between her and first-place winner Shin Ji-a, who scored 219.89 points, was just 7.06 points. Kim Yu-seong is the twin sister of Kim Yu-jae (17), who placed second in the first selection round. Another promising junior, Heo Ji-yoo (15), born in 2011, finished third with a score of 200.73 points. In the mens singles, Seo Min-kyu (18) and Choi Ha-bin (17) followed Cha Jun-hwan, taking second and third places respectively, marking their presence in the competition.
For the upcoming Olympics, Korea has secured two spots each for mens and womens singles, along with one spot for ice dance. The Korea Skating Union will determine the Olympic representatives by combining the scores from the first and second selection rounds held in November last year and the recent competition. Due to the International Skating Unions age criteria (born before July 2008), promising skaters like Kim Yu-seong and Kim Yu-jae unfortunately did not qualify for the Olympics, but they have shown hope for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the Alps, France.
A common thread among the junior skaters who outperformed their senior counterparts is that they are all recipients of the KB Financial Figure Dream Fund Scholarship. Since 2015, KB Financial has selected ten promising athletes each year under the age of 14 to receive a total scholarship of 50 million won. To date, the total financial support has reached 500 million won, going beyond mere sports sponsorship to foster growth and development in young athletes.
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