Milan: There was no rest for the weary South Korean Olympic figure skaters in northern Italy on Thursday, as they commenced their initial practice sessions less than 24 hours after landing in the host country. The two men's singles skaters, Cha Jun-hwan and Kim Hyun-gyeom, performed to the music of their short programs at the main rink in Milan Ice Skating Arena. Meanwhile, Shin Ji-a and Lee Hae-in, the women's singles skaters, showcased their free skate programs at an adjacent practice rink.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the four athletes arrived in Milan the previous evening. They used their first practice as an opportunity to acclimate to the ice and their surroundings due to the circumstances. Cha, the only skater among the four with prior Olympic experience, expressed his intention to assess the ice conditions and the rink's size without heavily testing his jumps, noting, "I just wanted to check out the ice conditions and the size of the rink here."

Despite his previous Olympic participation, Cha admitted to feeling a surge of excitement and nerves upon entering the arena. "As soon as I got here, it really dawned on me that I am now here for another Olympics," he said. "I am really happy and excited. At the same time, I feel a little bit nervous, but it's going to keep me on my toes."

Kim remarked that the rink seemed smaller and the ice softer than other rinks he had skated on, acknowledging the need to adapt to these conditions. "I'd heard about the size of the rink, but it's one thing to hear about it and quite another to see it for myself," Kim commented. "I still have plenty of time to get accustomed to this size here."

Shin, still experiencing some jet lag, chose to take a cautious approach during her practice. "I wanted to work on some jumps, and I think the practice went pretty well," she said. "I got to see the main rink earlier today, and it felt great to see the venue for my first Olympics."

Lee, who attempted more jumps than Shin, found excitement and adrenaline helping her overcome fatigue. "I was a bit tired, but the excitement of finally having a chance to practice here helped me get through," she noted. "It felt great to skate on the ice with the Olympic rings on it."

The figure skating competition kicks off Friday with the team event. In the singles, Cha and Shin will represent South Korea, joined by the ice dance duo of Hannah Lim and Quan Ye. The men's singles short program begins next Tuesday, with the free skate following three days later. The women's singles short program is scheduled for February 17, with the free skate two days later.