Foreign Media Coverage of Kim Yu-na Heats Up

World figure skating champion Kim Yu-na, 20, is training in Toronto and will arrive in Vancouver Feb. 20, right before the women’s figure skating competition starts.

Journalists at the Main Press Center in Vancouver are scrambling to cover her, frequently interviewing Korean reporters with questions like, “When will Kim arrive?” and “What’s she doing right now?”

While foreign media have published reports on the Olympics en masse day after day ahead of the event’s opening, news reports on Kim can be found through different media outlets.

The New York Times carried yesterday 16 photos of Kim’s performances, including one with her doing the triple lutz and triple toe loop jump, in two of its special section’s 12 pages. The newspaper called Kim “a ruling world champion.”

The Los Angeles Times also published the story “Kim Yuna Has South Korea’s Full Attention,” in its Internet edition yesterday. The daily introduced in detail an assessment of Kim by former world champion Michelle Kwan, Kim’s childhood idol, as well as the Korean people’s strong interest in Kim.

Kim will arrive in Vancouver Feb. 20 but her place of lodging and schedule are under wraps.

A brief interview at Vancouver International Airport was canceled because of the possible attendance of too many reporters.

Kim will stay at an undisclosed hotel in Vancouver instead of the Olympic Village. She will also reportedly use a vehicle offered by the Korea Olympic Council when going to and from the Pacific Coliseum, the venue of the figure skating competition.

A source from IB Sports, Kim’s management agency, said, “We have received a flood of inquires on Kim Yu-na’s schedule and lodging. We will keep this information secret to ensure her mental composure.”

Kim will also speak to the media only at news conferences following her official training session.

Most experts say she is sure to win the gold medal in Vancouver, with the real competition being for the silver and bronze.

Mao Asada, 20, and Miki Ando, 23, of Japan and Joannie Rochette, 24, of Canada will likely compete for the silver. Asada, who is training in Japan, will arrive in Vancouver Feb. 20.

Ando is in the U.S. and will arrive in Vancouver tomorrow. Hometown favorite Rochette will start training in Vancouver around Feb. 21.

creating@donga.com