Yuna Kim
South Korean figure skater, Yuna Kim, is so talented that the media gave her the famous media nickname “Queen Yuna.” She won the gold medal in the Olympic Games in 2010. Additionally, she is the 2014 silver medalist in the ladies’ singles event, two time World Champion (2009, 2013), three time Grand Prix Final Champion, among many other victories. One other impressive accomplishment is that she is the former record holder for the ladies short, free skate and combined total. She has broken previous records 11 times with high scores that she has earned. She was named by Time Magazine as one of the most influential 100 people in 2010. She was recognized both for her skating and her philanthropic efforts. As of 2015 she has donated millions of dollars to various charitable organizations. Kim has kept incredibly busy since her retirement. She opened her own sports agency, has appeared in numerous Korean commercials, ventured into recording music, and has worked with UNICEF sending messages of peace worldwide.
Tiffany Chin
Chinese, but originally from Oakland, California, Tiffany Chin is another impressive figure skater turn skating coach. She first rose to fame in the 80s when the sport was dominated by impressive Soviet Athletes. To have an extremely competitive Asian-American woman share the same ice as these athletes seemed impossible at that time. She first rose to fame when she was 15, taking the bronze medal in the U.S. Championships in 1983. She will always be remembered in figure skating history as the first woman of Asian decent to win a national title. She was extremely successful but often faced racism in the skating world and media. Many called her the racist nickname “China Doll” and commentators often stated it is because of her ethnicity that she was able to move with the elegance that she did. She retired from skating in 1987, pursued her education, and then became a coach. She is remembered for having paved the way for other Asian-American athletes including Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan.
