Milan: Late in 2025, as she was preparing for her Winter Olympic debut in Italy, South Korean figure skater Hannah Lim decided to write a short story based on her free dance program with her partner, Quan Ye. The program is set to "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber and "Adagio" by Lara Fabian.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lim, a voracious reader who enjoys fantasy novels by Sarah J. Maas, initially wrote for herself but later shared her evolving story with others for feedback. During a practice session at Milano Ice Skating Arena, Lim explained that her story begins before the dance and continues through to its conclusion. "It's like I put our skating into words," Lim remarked, describing how she transformed their skating into characters set in that period.
Quan, who became a Korean citizen in 2024 to represent South Korea at the Olympics, was one of the first to read Lim's work. He reviewed five drafts and was impressed by the sensory details Lim included. Lim aimed for a descriptive narrative that readers could visualize, aligning with her reading preferences.
Although Lim hopes to publish the story before the Olympics, she is racing against time as her manager checks for errors. As the ice dance team prepares for their first competition, Lim believes that reading the story will enhance the audience's experience of their program. Despite not being medal favorites, Lim and Quan aim to be memorable and convey their storytelling through their performance.
Lim aspires to leave a lasting impression on the audience, hoping that their rhythm dance featuring Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" and the somber free dance resonate with viewers, even those unfamiliar with ice dance. She also appreciates the gradual progress required in ice dance, citing her favorite team, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, as an example of success through persistence.
Regardless of their placement, Lim knows her family is proud of her achievements. Her mother and aunt will be present in Milan, and her family in Korea has been supportive throughout her journey. "They've seen how far we've come and they're super proud," Lim shared.