Korea's new figure skating sensation
Kudos to Choi Ha-bin! The 16-year-old figure skater achieved a stunning upset victory in the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Riga, Latvia, last week. He finished fifth in the short program after making a mistake on his second jump combination. However, his spellbinding performance in the free program propelled him to a come-from-behind victory. He earned a personal-best score of 170.20…
Choi Ha-bin, a 16-year-old figure skater from Korea, stunned the competition by winning a remarkable upset victory at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Riga, Latvia. Despite a mistake during the short program, Choi's captivating performance in the free program allowed him to secure a well-deserved fifth place. He achieved a personal-best score of 170.20 points, falling just short of the score set by last year's World Championship winner, Rio Nakata.
Choi's electrifying performances quickly gained traction on social media, earning him widespread attention and admiration. Overseas experts have drawn comparisons between the young sensation and reigning world champion Ilia Malinin, a living legend in the world of figure skating. Malinin, known as the "Quad God," has an impressive track record, having won gold medals in the 2026 Olympic Games team event and claimed three world championship titles.
Ted Barton, a commentator with the ISU’s Skating YouTube channel, praised Choi's impressive free skate, noting that it was difficult to find the right words to describe his performance. Choi's victory has brought a surge of hope and inspiration for Korean figure skating fans, who now see a new figure skating sensation rising to the forefront of the sport.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Korea's new figure skating sensation koreatimes.co.kr
