"It Feels Like This Is Just the Beginning"
Ina Hyun Lee (Korea National Sport University), the junior world record holder in women's 500m speed skating, reached the top at the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games. On the 8th, at the Speed Skating Oval of the Heilongjiang Ice Training Center in Harbin, China, she won the gold medal in the women's 100m speed skating event with a time of 10.501 seconds. She edged out Kim Minseon (10.505 seconds), who was a strong contender pointed out by the Korea Skating Union and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, by just 0.004 seconds.
This performance exceeded the expectations of the Korea Skating Union and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. Born in 2005, Ina Hyun Lee's main event is the 500m. While attending Nowon High School, she set a junior Korean record (37.48 seconds) at the 2023-2024 International Skating Union (ISU) Four Continents Speed Skating Championships held in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, in January last year. One week later, at the 5th ISU World Cup event in the women's 500m, she crossed the finish line in 37.34 seconds, breaking the junior world record.
Ina Hyun Lee has developed a solid physique through weight training last year, unleashing explosive energy. She refined her starting technique and finishing skating skills, which were considered weaknesses at Korea National Sport University, quickly rising to become a top-level sprinter. After the competition, Ina Hyun Lee said, "I just ran as if I were training for the 100m, and a good record came out," adding, "This is my first time participating in an international multi-sport event, but I feel like this is just the beginning." She continued, "This is the first time I stood on the podium and heard the national anthem," and said, "I will cherish this gold medal."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
