SEOUL, Training for the upcoming Winter Youth Olympics while spending the vast majority of time away from their parents, all Kim So-yoon and Kim Ha-yoon have is each other. The two teenage lugers will represent the host South Korea at the fourth Winter Youth Olympics starting Friday in Gangwon Province, on the east coast of the country. They have been together every step of the way in their fledgling luge career, which began only a few years ago after they both switched from boxing. So-yoon, 16, and her brother Ha-yoon, 15, have spent most of the past year or so training in Pyeongchang, some 160 kilometers east of their home city of Incheon. The sister admitted being away from her parents has been one of the toughest parts of training for the Winter Youth Olympics, but having her younger brother by her side has helped. "Since we're competing in the same sport, we can really relate to each other," So-yoon said during an online press conference Tuesday from Pyeongchang. "Since we're family, we have a natura l bond. We understand each other well and it's really comforting to have him here." Ha-yoon, who took up luge because he enjoyed watching his sister coming down the track, said So-yoon has been a great mentor. "She always answers whatever questions I have," the younger Kim said. "Whenever we find ourselves in some difficult situations, we can always sit down and talk things over, and everything is fine." Their natural athleticism helped them make quick progress in the new sport. In 2022, they outpaced grown-ups to earn spots on the senior national team. And at the Winter Youth Olympics, open to athletes aged 15 to 18, they will be competing against sliders their age. "My goal at this Olympics is to finish in the top five," So-yoon said. "But even if I don't end up winning a medal, I want to help athletes from other countries enjoy Korean culture and go home with fond memories of Korea. That's what the spirit of the Olympic Games is all about." Ha-yoon said he wants to have a safe race at the Olympics, r egardless of the result. "I've been working so hard for this competition, and I don't want to have any regrets at the end," he added. "I want to make sure my hard work won't go to waste here." The luge races, along with other sliding events, will take place at Alpensia Sliding Centre, the same venue that hosted the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The Kims said it's a challenging track for lugers their age, but they have a built-in advantage over athletes from other countries because they've been able to train there extensively. "We're trying to study and analyze every little curve of the track," So-yoon said. "When you pass every curve safely and cross the finish line, there's no feeling quite like it. That's what makes luge so great for me." Ha-yoon said he has gradually grown accustomed to the Alpensia track. "I think I should be able to handle myself on this track," he said. "I've enjoyed training at and learning the new track. This has been an important learning experience for me." Source: Yonhap News Agency
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