Korea’s Lee Si-hyeong books figure skating spot at Beijing 2022

Lee Si-hyeong has qualified for Beijing 2022. © Yonhap
Lee Si-hyeong has qualified for Beijing 2022. © Yonhap

Seoul, Korea, September 27, 2021: Twenty skaters/couples from 16 International Skating Union member nations earned the last remaining Olympic quota places for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany.

Seven spots for men, six for women, three for pairs and four for ice dance were available.

In the men’s event, Korea’s Lee Si-hyeong came in fifth to book a place at Beijing 2022 next February with a personal best total of 229.14, comprised of a PB 79.95 short programme and PB 149.19 free skate.

2019 ISU World bronze medalist Vincent Zhou (USA) won the men’s event with two strong performances to score a runaway victory with 284.23 points, 40 points ahead of France’s Adam Siao Him Fa. 

The 1.86-metre, Seoul-born Lee, who will turn 21 this December, is a student. He began skating in 2010 and is coached by Choi Hyung-kyung. His choreographer is Shin Yea-ji. His short programme music is Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin and his free skating is Carmen Suite after Bizet’s Opera by R. Shchedrin.

Fellow Korean skater Cha Jun-hwan had already secured a seat earlier in March, allowing Korea to send two athletes in the men's figure skating for the first time.

In the women's event, Lee Hae-in and Kim Ye-rim each finished 10th and 11th to secure their berths at the same event last March.