Five things to know about Lee Haein: Her one-on-one lesson with Yuna Kim, Korean Tteokbokki cravings, and more
The 17-year-old captured the Four Continents title - her biggest yet - Friday (10 February). Before she competed, she spoke to Olympics.com about Yuna Kim's influence - and much, much more.
Figure Skating
"It always feels good when I'm on the ice skating."
Those are the words of figure skater Lee Haein, the 17-year-old from the Republic of Korea who is looking to stake her claim among a crowded field of top female skaters from her country currently competing internationally.
She had a statement win on Saturday (11 February) at the ISU Four Continents Championships, levelling up from the silver she won in 2022. Lee jumped from sixth place after the short program to win gold, becoming the first Republic of Korea female to win the title since Yuna Kim in 2009.
"I am so happy right now," she said after the win.
Her sights are now set on next month's World Championships, where a year ago she surprised for a seventh place finish after getting a late call-up for Team Korea.
"I worked really hard - more than last year," Lee said of her 2022-23 campaign so far. In January, she won her fifth consecutive medal at the Korean nationals - a bronze - to secure her spot on the Worlds team for Saitama, Japan.
Of Saitama, she said: "I want to skate two clean programs and get a good result there. I'm grateful to be on a young, strong Korean team."
Olympics.com caught up with Lee as she arrived in Colorado Springs ahead of Four Continents. She described her Olympic dreams for 2026, revealed a surprising moment with Yuna Kim, shared what her favourite food is - and much more.
Lee Haein: Olympic dreams
Having watched with her family from home as a 12-year-old during PyeongChang 2018, Lee had dreams of qualifying for Beijing 2022 but fell just short. Her third place at the Korean nationals - behind You Young and Kim Yelim - left her having to watch from afar.
"I really wanted to compete there," Lee said of Beijing, adding: "But it's OK, I'll keep going."
She laughed when she described her nerves in watching her teammates and friends compete: "I was so nervous watching the Olympics. I think I was more nervous [than when] I compete."
With extra motivation from having missed out on Beijing, Lee puts her aspirations for Milano Cortina 2026 in simple terms: "I want to go to the next Olympics."
A special bond with Yuna Kim
Today's talent boom in women's skating in Korea goes back to Vancouver 2010 champion Kim, who would go on to win silver at Sochi 2014 while building one of the most prolific skating careers of the last 20 years.
The "Queen Yuna" moniker is something this generation grew up with: Yuna and her skating as flawless.
"Since I started skating, Yuna Kim has always been my role model," said Lee. "I would always watch her programs - all of them [laughs]. When I would go to practice sessions, training, I would say to myself, 'I am Yuna Kim. I want to be like Yuna Kim.'"
Before Lee left for Four Continents, she had a special moment: A one-on-one ice session with Yuna herself. The teen was getting tips from the queen, particularly on her choreography and movement.
"It was a lesson around choreography for my program, and she helped me understand the character in one of my programs," Lee explained. "She helped me a lot, so I'm very thankful."
Learning from the best: Junhwan, Eric, Shae-Lynn
It's not just Kim who is offering her help to Lee, however. Lee is good friends with top Korean male skater Cha Jun-hwan, who has emerged as a consistent force on the international scene the last few years.
"He's given me advice and helped me a lot," Lee said of Cha, who is also set to compete at Four Continents. "Watching him - I'll watch him on TV - and it gives me confidence for my own skating."
This season, Lee has tapped into well-known choreographers and artists in the sport, too: Tom Dickson assembled her short program, which is set to a song written by three-time Olympic medallist, pairs skater Eric Radford; while Shae-Lynn Bourne choreographed her free skate.
Lee traveled to Los Angles to work with Bourne who has become one of the most sought-after choreographers in the sport: "She helped me feel more confident in understanding this music," Lee said of Bourne.
Getting the triple Axel back
While she continues to up her artistry, she's also seeking something else in her repertoire: the triple Axel.
The jump - rare in women's skating - helped propel her to that seventh-place finish at Worlds last year, but she has not attempted it in competition this season. Her focus instead has been on getting her triple Lutz-triple toe-loop combination back, something she was struggling with previously.
Her triple Axel remains a "work in progress" - and she is not looking to add it back into her free skate until the 2023-24 season.
"I'm still working on it," she said. "When I'm able to do my triple Axel like my double Axel, then I'll put it in my program. Not this year, I don't think, but I would like [to do] the triple Axel next season."
Quickfire Qs: Tteokbokki, archery and sleeping in
And what about Lee away from skating? The teenager loves photography, drawing, spending time with her friends and shopping.
Her favourite food? "Tteokbokki. It's a Korean rice cake with a special spicy sauce - it's really good."
Is she a morning person or night person? "I'm a night person. Mostly because I sleep a lot... everyday. [Laughs]"
Which Olympic sport would she like to do aside from skating? "Archery. I really like it."
What are the random thoughts that go through her mind mid-program? "'Wow there are so many fans here.' 'Wait, I'm competing right now?' 'I can do it, I can do it.'"
Lee hopes the I-can-do-it mentality will only help her in the long run, both in excelling internally as a skater... and getting to that external goal: The Olympics.
"When people think of me, I want them to think of a happy skater who worked hard and never gave up on her job of skating," she said before adding: "... and I want to go to the Olympics, too."