By Yoo Yeon Gyeong
Kim Hyungyeom (Hankwang High School), 18, is the nation's first male figure skater to win a medal in a Winter Youth Olympics.
Kim on Jan. 29 won the gold after taking the men's single free skating program at the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics (Gangwon 2024) with a score of 147.45 at Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province.
Two days earlier, he finished third in the single skating short program to earn 69.28 points, but on Jan. 29, he made a quadruple toe loop (four revolutions) among his seven jumps. This allowed him to rally with a combined winning score of 216.73.
By a half a point, Kim edged runner-up Adam Hagara, 18, of Slovakia, who won the silver with 216.23. The bronze went to Li Yanhao, 16, of New Zealand (208.84).
The Korean is the nation's first male figure skater to win a medal at the Winter Youth Olympics since its launch in 2012.
He said, "I'm truly thrilled to be able to sing the national anthem at this stadium because of my efforts."
Giving Team Korea its fifth gold in the competition, Kim will seek his second gold at the team event on Feb. 1.
dusrud21@korea.kr
