“Everything seemed to go against me, including external circumstances.” Chaeyeon Kim reflects on her “rollercoaster” past season and shares aspirations for the upcoming Olympics
Chaeyeon Kim reflects on her “rollercoaster” past season, her growth through struggles and triumphs, and her aspirations for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina
original source: hani.co.kr dd. August 28th, 2025 by Kim Yang-hee
Standing on the ice, Chaeyeon Kim (19) often appears composed. However, when reflecting on her past season, she describes it as a “rollercoaster.” From the jubilant moments of earning gold at the Four Continents Championships and the Harbin Asian Games, to the bittersweet recollection of placing 10th at the World Championships, Kim’s year has been a journey of achievement and setbacks that have made her stronger.
Here’s a translation on an article posted on Hani.
“When Kim first stepped onto the ice, she was afraid of falling, but the feeling of freedom as she glided through the air captivated her. In middle school, an ankle injury made her briefly consider quitting. “I thought I’d regret it forever if I stopped,” she recalled. Determined, she pushed through and stayed with the sport she loved. Looking back in a recent written interview from Toronto, Canada, where she is currently training, she said, “Because figure skating is something I started out of my own passion, I decided to see it through no matter what.”
The highlight of her last season was winning the Four Continents Championship in Seoul, performing a stable routine and receiving roaring applause from a home audience. On the flip side, her hardest moment was the World Championships in March. “Everything seemed to go against me, including external circumstances,” she shared. During the 2024 World Championships, where she earned a bronze medal, Kim cried after her free skate. “I was emotionally unstable at that time, so as soon as I finished my performance, tears just came out,” she revealed.
Preparing for the 2025–2026 Season and Olympics
The upcoming 2025–2026 season serves as a precursor to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. For her short program, she chose the song Qui a le Droit? (Who Has the Right?) by the French artist Patrick Bruel, recommended by choreographer Shae-Lynn Bourne. For her free skate, she selected music from the soundtrack of the Korean film Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War. “I think war throws ordinary lives into confusion and fear in an instant. Inspired by the film, I wanted my program to reflect the pain of that era, the tragedy of war, and the peace our country has achieved beyond it,” Kim explained.
Her mother continues to contribute to her journey by designing her costumes every season. “She paid special attention to bring out the colors of the programs this time as well,” Kim noted.
Kim, who has postponed her university entrance exams to focus on the Olympics, spends her days immersed in training. She skates from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and engages in supplemental training for another 2 to 3 hours during the afternoon. Afterward, she unwinds with a sauna session at her accommodation. For Kim, the happiness she finds in figure skating isn’t tied only to medals or scores. “I find joy in achieving the small goals I set during practice,” she said. On days when things don’t go as planned, she allows herself to feel upset for only that day before refocusing and moving forward. Her motto is to take things “consistently, little by little,” trusting the hours of practice she has accumulated.
Though she dreams of a day when she can relax in bed wholeheartedly without any plans, Kim thinks her personality might not allow her to do so. Her MBTI type is ISFJ (Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging), though those around her speculate she might lean more toward the Thinking (T) type than Feeling (F). Lately, she has taken to reading psychology books to help her reflect and organize her thoughts. “Time really flies when I read,” she remarked. Her favorite colors are black and white, her AirPods are an essential item in her bag, and her current favorite food is shabu-shabu.
Advice to Her Younger Self
If she could go back and give her younger self just 10 seconds of advice, Chaeyeon Kim would say, “Even if it’s hard, don’t give up. If you keep working at it, one day you’ll reach the goal you want.” This is the same advice she hopes to pass on to aspiring skaters. Having started skating later than most, in the fifth grade, Kim experienced countless setbacks before she earned her place at the top. She deeply understands the value of perseverance and sweat.
Kim will unveil her new program at the Lombardia Trophy, part of the International Skating Union (ISU) Challenger Series, held in Bergamo, Italy, starting on September 11. Her ultimate goal, though simple, is heartfelt: “I really want to compete in the Olympics.” Should she make it to the stage, she hopes to perform without regrets. For Chaeyeon Kim, figure skating is “life itself” because “every practice day allows me to fill the yet-to-be-written pages of my story.” Striving to be remembered as a skater who worked hard and consistently, she continues to carve her narrative on the ice, ushering in a new chapter of her journey.”
Related topics: Chaeyeon Kim
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