Kim Ye-lim
Kim Ye-lim (Hangul: 김예림; born January 23, 2003) is a South Korean figure skater. She is a 2022 Four Continents bronze medalist and the 2021 South Korean national champion. Moreover, she has won two medals on the Challenger series, including silver at the 2019 Nebelhorn Trophy, and is nominated to represent her country at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Earlier in her career, she won two silver medals on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series (2018 JGP Lithuania, 2018 JGP Czech Republic). Career. Early years. Kim started skating after the 2010 Olympics, inspired by Kim Yuna. 2016–2017  season. In August 2016, Kim debuted on the Junior Grand Prix (JGP) series in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France and placed fourth. In September, she placed fifth at another JGP competition in Yokohama, Japan. At JGP Japan, after Kim was unable to be located for a doping control test in a timely manner, the ISU disciplined her with a reprimand and a warning not to engage in future violations of Anti-Doping protocol. In January 2017, she won a silver medal at the South Korean senior national. She qualified to participate in the 2017 World Junior Championships, but she withdrew  because of a toe injury. 2017–2018 season. In September 2017, Kim placed fourth at the Junior Grand Prix in Minsk, Belarus. In October, Kim placed sixth at the JGP in Egna, Italy. After the season ended, Kim changed coaches and training locations. She switched to Tom Zakrajsek and Tammy Gambill and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. 2018–2019 season. In September 2018, Kim won the silver medal at the Junior Grand Prix in Kaunas, Lithuania behind Russian figure skater Alexandra Trusova. It was her first JGP medal. The following week, Kim competed in the senior level of the 2018 CS U.S.  International Classic, winning the bronze medal. She won her second silver medal at the JGP in Ostrava, Czech Republic behind Alena Kostornaia of Russia. Her results qualified her for the Junior Grand Prix Final in Vancouver, where she finished sixth after falls in both programs. After the free, she commented: "This first competition is, for me, like a higher level competition. I can see many audiences, and it’s interesting, but I want to have more big competitions like this, so next time I want to show everybody my best program." Kim placed fifth at the South Korean championships but  had fared better at the previous ranking competition and was assigned to her first senior ISU Championship, the 2019 Four Continents Championship. She finished eighth and said that she had enjoyed the experience. 2019–2020 season. Kim left coach Tom Zakrajsek and relocated to Korea to train under her former coach. She opened her season at the 2019 CS Lombardia Trophy, placing fourth. A week later, she won the silver medal at the 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy. Assigned to one Grand Prix event, Kim placed seventh at the 2019 Skate Canada International. In December 2019, Kim won the South Korean Trials  for the 2020 Four Continents and was subsequently assigned to the event along with country mates Lim Eun-soo and You Young. After winning the bronze medal at the South Korean championships, behind You and the senior-ineligible Lee Hae-in, she was assigned to the 2020 World Championships as well. Lim placed sixth at Four Continents. Her World Championship debut was prevented when they were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. 2020–2021 season. With the pandemic greatly curtailing international opportunities for Korean skaters, Kim did not compete on either the Challenger or Grand Prix circuits and instead  made her competitive debut at the 2021 South Korean Championships. Third in the short program and second in the free skate, she won the gold medal overall, her first national title. She was assigned to one of Korea's two ladies' berths at the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm. Kim placed fifth in the short program with a new personal best, but only thirteenth in the free skate, finishing eleventh overall. Her placement combined with that of Lee Hae-in qualified two Korean ladies' berths for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. 2021–2022 season. Kim made her Olympic season debut  at the 2021 Skate America, where she placed eighth. Her second Grand Prix was initially the 2021 Cup of China, but following its cancellation, she was reassigned to the 2021 Gran Premio d'Italia in Turin. She placed sixth at the event. At the 2022 South Korean Championships, the final qualifying event for the South Korean Olympic team, Kim placed fourth in the short program and second in the free skate, winning the silver medal. As a result, she was named to the Olympics alongside national champion You Young. First assigned to compete at the 2022 Four Continents Championships in Tallinn , Kim won the bronze medal. She placed ahead of You and behind fellow countrywoman Lee Hae-in, achieving a new personal best for her free skate and combined total scores. She expressed satisfaction with her performance in light of the short time that had passed since the national championships. Competing in the women's event at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Kim placed ninth in the short program. Her past history of having been reprimanded by the ISU for accidentally missing a doping test at age 13 also attracted media attention due to the perceived double standard applied by the Court  of Arbitration for Sport to Russian competitor Kamila Valieva at the Games. Kim called the decision to allow Valieva to compete "regrettable." She went on to place eleventh in the free skate, finishing ninth overall. Kim was assigned to finish her season at the 2022 World Championships, but had to withdraw due to a positive COVID test and was replaced by Lee. Competitive highlights. "GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix"