In her Olympic debut on Tuesday night in Milan, figure skater Lee Hae-in delivered an impressive performance that earned her the highest short program score of the season, with a total of 70.07 points at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Despite her remarkable score, the South Korean athlete displayed little outward emotion, leaving observers uncertain about her feelings on her performance.
Lee expressed her surprise at the high score, sharing her initial intention to simply acknowledge her effort in executing every element of her routine. “I didn’t think I would receive that high of a score. I just wanted to pat myself on the back for trying so hard to execute every element the best I could,” she commented after the event. Her previous season-best score had been 67.06 points, achieved in January, highlighting her significant improvement.
Reflecting on her nerves prior to taking the ice, Lee admitted that she did not expect anxiety to affect her. “Up until yesterday, I didn’t think I’d be nervous at all, but once I took the ice, it felt different,” she stated. Nevertheless, she managed to remain focused and successfully landed all of her jumps while receiving top levels for her spins and step sequence.
With her confidence bolstered by her performance, Lee acknowledged the importance of mental strength as she looks forward to the free skate on Thursday. “After all, this is the Olympics, and athletes are bound to feel nervous. But it’s something I have to overcome mentally,” she said. Lee is determined to sharpen her performance in every aspect, hoping that with the short program behind her, she will be able to enjoy the upcoming routine more despite the pressures of the competition.
Lee’s performance exemplifies the dedication and skill necessary at the Olympic level, and as she prepares for the next phase, her focus on mental resilience is a commendable strategy for success.