Seoul: After securing her first Olympic berth with a tear-jerking performance, figure skater Lee Hae-in is determined to evoke tears of joy from fans during her Olympic debut in Milan next month. Overwhelmed with emotion after her successful routine in the Olympic trials, Lee paused on the ice, shedding tears of relief and gratitude.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee expressed her hopes of creating an emotional connection with the audience during a media interaction before her training session at the Taeneung Indoor Ice Arena in Seoul. "I am sure the arena will be packed and I will probably be a nervous wreck," Lee admitted. "Hopefully, when I overcome those anxious moments and put on a good performance, a lot of people will be shedding tears of happiness and giving me an ovation."
At 20, Lee secured the final Olympic spot for South Korea in women's singles, finishing second overall in the trials behind Shin Ji-a. Her journey to the Olympics was fraught with challenges, including a suspension by the Korea Skating Union (KSU) in June 2024 over allegations of sexual harassment. Lee successfully contested the ban in court, which was lifted in May last year, allowing her to vie for an Olympic position.
Trailing by 3.66 points going into the second leg of the trials, Lee outperformed her competitor Kim Chae-yeon by over 11 points in the free skate. "I am really grateful for a chance to skate on such a big stage," Lee said, reflecting on her unexpected Olympic opportunity. "I didn't think I would ever get to compete at an Olympics. I will try to represent the country well."
Lee's emotional response after her free skate was a mix of relief and appreciation for the support she received. "I was just so relieved that I was able to finish the program, although it wasn't perfect. I also heard fans yell, 'Let's go Hae-in!' before the start, and it was a pretty touching moment," she shared.
The legal battle and personal challenges over the past years have been a period of self-discovery for Lee. She found solace in music, writing, and drawing, which helped her maintain focus and control. "I learned how to maintain my own pace throughout the process, and I was able to focus on things I could control and things I had to do," she noted.
As she prepares for her Olympic performance, Lee has been immersing herself in the music for her routines, including "My Way" by Sydnie Christmas and "Carmen Suite No. 1" by George Bizet. Her goal is to deliver a mature and confident performance at the Olympics. "I want to be more complete in my execution of the programs and perform like the senior skater that I am," Lee stated. "I think I might have lacked some confidence in earlier competitions this season. I will try to regain some of it and show everything I have."