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Kim Yuna talks about overcoming hardship, Special Olympics

July 27, 2015
Yuna Kim

Kim Yuna

By Tae Hong

Kim Yuna, South Korean queen of figure skating, gave a speech inside Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles Monday for the Doha GOALS Forum.

The much-decorated, now-retired 25-year-old athlete spoke of her ordeals on and off the ice rink, including facing the challenge at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, where she won gold and set a world record.

Kim said her 17 to 18 years of competitive figure skating were comprised of 80 to 90 percent memories in hardship.

But she couldn’t give up to get a taste of the remaining happy 10 percent, she said.

“This is true for all things, but without adversity, there cannot be success,” she said. “I hope the athletes at the Special Olympics also overcome their hardships to have hope and courage.”

Kim is an ambassador for the Special Olympics.