Gangwon 2024: Kim Min-sun reflects on Youth Olympics as career highlight, valuing experience over medals
The 2016 Youth Olympic gold medallist is urging athletes at Gangwon 2024 to value the impactful moments from the YOG as she continues to cherish gains from Lillehammer: 'That experience was more valuable than a medal'
Republic of Korea’s Kim Min-sun believes competing at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) proved to be the perfect launching pad for her speed skating career.
Kim won the gold at the women's 500m event at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer and went on to qualify for two Olympic Games editions as a senior.
The Korean skated in her speciality event, the 500m, at PyeongChang 2018 Games, and again at Beijing 2022, where she also skated in the 1000m.
But she still relishes the thrill of competing at her first major multi-sport event in Norway.
“That experience was more valuable than a medal itself for me to continue my sporting career on the global stage,” she told Olympics.com from Gangwon, where she is following the action from the YOG.
“I had won medals at the junior competitions so I received attention as a gold medal contender in the women’s 500m, especially after my fellow skater Jang Mi claimed victory at Innsbruck 2012 [Youth Olympics]. I became extremely nervous before the competition but felt relieved to win gold.”
Besides the experience of being an Olympian, Min-sun still holds on to the memories she picked up outside the competition venue and the friendships she made.
“YOG is like a miniature version of the traditional Olympics, with everything, including the opening and closing ceremonies. One significant difference, however, what made it the most memorable competition, was that it provided me with opportunities to get to know cultures and athletes from many different countries for the first time,” she recalled.
“I also participated in many cultural programmes, enjoying VR games and taking photos while wearing the Olympic rings sunglasses. We all had enough time to bond together at the Athlete Village. I still talk to them, with whom I took photos at Lillehammer 2016.”
"[At the Youth Olympic Games] we have more opportunities to socialise with one another. The Olympics is the ultimate dream stage for many athletes, so it is not easy to enjoy other things besides my own race.”
The former world junior record holder in the women’s 500m subsequently underlined her status as Korea’s new skating hope by qualifying for her home Olympics in 2018.
“It was such a gratifying moment. Because the home fans shouted my name, like, ‘Let’s go, Kim Minsun! You are the best, Kim Minsun!’- something I had never heard while competing abroad in my life,” she said.
“I felt so lucky to compete at the Olympics held in my country. I hope that junior athletes also have similar experiences and cherish those moments.”
“Above all, the Gangneung Oval is one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world, so I hope many of them can create as many beautiful memories as possible. It will also foster a deeper affection for their sports.”
The 2022-2023 World Cup overall champion is now eyeing her third Olympics at Milano Cortina 2026.
Competition at the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympics continues until February 1. Speed skating events are taking place from 22-26 January. Action from multiple sports is available to livestream on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.