Like several bloggers I'm actually starting to enjoy this scandal in skating paradise!
Alongside her english twitter message the other day where she accused Brian Orser of lying. Yu-Na Kim also posted a full statement in korea on her website. A translated version is available
here.
Part of her statement reads :
Do you really think that my mother would decide to split with the coach on her own?
I am no longer a child. (Brian Orser) was my coach and it is my final decision whether I decide to continue with him or to part ways. After consulting with my mother and upon careful consideration, this is the decision we made.
Of course, there was the problem regarding the offer to coach another skater , but do you really think that is the only reason? Just reading Brian Orser's interviews, it seems as though we were thoughtless and disrespectful and all of this is our, no, my mother's fault. Are you going to believe what he says at face value?''
This Other Skater refers to her long time rival Mao Asada as the Japan Skating Federation approached Brian to take over Mao's coaching after the games thinking that Yu-Na would retire.
Brian has seemed to make an effort to dispel some of the rumours going around about who said what to who by showing the media a copy of the email he sent to Yu-Na whilst she was in Korea
Subject: rumours
Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:46:04 -0400
Hi Yuna, hope you are well and getting some rest. i am sure you have heard some of the rumours that have been going around about Mao. I just want you to know that I am loyal to you and am always here for you. Her agency did inquire about me ( and team ) working with her, I told them that you are my first priority. I have to say that I was flattered she has an interest, but your skating comes first.
Let me know if you have any concerns or thoughts. I wanted to contact you and tell you how this all happened.
When are you arriving? and do you have any idea what you are feeling for next year? maybe we should talk about this.
All the kids are missing you here at the club.
Please be in touch. B
This all seems well and good and we would probably all be back on Brian's side of the fence were it not for the fact that he announced Yu-Na's free skate music to the media as well. She is due to skate to a collection of Korean music including the song Arirang (read about it here)
"It's a fantastic program, by far the best one I've seen," Orser said. "It is well beyond even her Concerto in F. It's a complete departure."
Kind words- but he has ruffled more feathers.
Choreographer David Wilson- the only member of the cricket club still on neutral ground has broken his silence to say that he was shocked by Brian announcing this.
Yu-Na's agency said "This can only be construed as a move intended to hurt the skater."
"This started as a simple issue of a skater and coach going their separate ways. We do not want this standoff and accusations to go on any further. We strongly urge Mr. Orser to put an end to the unfounded claims and refrain from disclosing confidential information about Yu-Na Kim's future competition plans."
This is getting juicy now! Brian still insists that he will not coach Mao Asada but he does have some of the top american skaters still under his wing.
Min-Jeong Kwak, Korea's number 2 skater who moved to Toronto around the time of the games has also left Orser. Hardly surprising since she is also a member of Yu-Na's agency and basically shares a slice of Yu-Na's fame. A shame though as she was beginning to blossom under the care of the cricket club.
So that was round 3- bring on round 4
The questions remain- if Yu-Na leaves the cricket club (which I'm guessing she will) Where will she go and who will coach her?
Will she do what Mao did in '08 and go it alone?
Will she come back to competition at all?
Time will tell...............
Mirai Nagasu (USA) will be hoping to erase some of the disapointment from the world championships and return to the form that made her 4th in the olympics. She will face off against Miki Ando and Akiko Suzuki of Japan as well as 'mini Yu-Na' Korea's Ming-Jung Kwak
