Figure Queen Kim Yu-na bids tearful farewell in ice shows

Published : May 7, 2014 - 08:03 Updated : May 7, 2014 - 08:03

South Korea's figure skating icon Kim Yu-na bid emotional farewell Tuesday to her fans at home and abroad displaying perfect performances on her ice shows.

Kim made her last appearance on ice as a figure skater by holding the shows in Seoul for three days from Sunday, coming up with a new gala program with "Nessun Dorma" by Opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini.

Kim Yu-na bids farewell to her fans in her last appearance on ice as a figure skater on Tuesday. (Yonhap)

Her flawless performance during the 2014 All That Skate under the title of "Adios, Gracias" was greeted with thundering applause.

The 23-year-old star retired from competition after the Sochi Winter Olympics last February. She picked up the silver medal in Sochi behind Adelina Sotnikova of Russia, after winning the gold at the previous Winter games in Vancouver four years ago.

"I will not any more play as a national athlete, but continue to fare well with other activities. I really thank for your support, and I love you all," Kim told thousands of fans.

Other olympic medalists and world champions joined the stage with the figure icon.

Denis Ten of Kazakhstan, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist in the men's singles, and Alexei Yagudin of Russia, the 2002 Olympic gold medalist and the four-time world champ in the men's singles, headlined the star-studded cast.

Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia, the gold medal-winning duo in the pairs, also joined the show together with the bronze medalists in the same event, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany.

Kim Yu-na burst into tears during a news conference in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)

Though she said goodbye to the fans on the ice with a big smile, Kim was unable to hold back tears during the press conference following the show.

"I served long as an active player, and looking back those days made me cry," she said.

"I had suffered injuries and faced slump many times, but I overcame them which helped me make it here," the skater said. "I believe the bad memories will help my future."

Asked about her plan down the road, she simply said she "first wants to take rest and have time to think of."

Kim leaves figure skating as one of the finest ever to grace the ice. Aside from her two Olympic medals, Kim also has two world championships to her credit.

Kim captured the silver medal in her final Olympics, finishing more than five points behind Adelina Sotnikova in what many felt was a controversial decision. Despite public outrage over the result, Kim has said she wouldn't dwell on the past and is happy to be done with competitive skating. (Yonhap)