Kim Chae-yeon (figure skater)

Kim Chae-yeon (born 8 December 2006) is a South Korean figure skater. She is the 2024 World bronze medalist, the 2024 Four Continents silver medalist, 2023 Skate Canada International silver medalist, a three-time ISU Challenger Series medalist (including gold at the 2023 CS Nepela Memorial), and 2024 South Korean national bronze medalist.

At the junior level, she is the 2022–23 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist and a three-time ISU Junior Grand Prix medalist.

Kim Chae-yeon medaled at the World Championships after practicing figure skating for only 7 years, a rare feat in the history of the sport.

Personal life
Kim was born on December 8, 2006, in Seoul, South Korea.

Her mother, Lee Jung-ah, is an interior designer and is responsible for designing all of Kim's figure skating costumes.

Early years
Kim began skating in 2017 when she was in the fifth grade. She placed fourth in the junior category at the 2020 South Korean Championships.

In February 2021, Kim placed ninth, competing as a senior at the 2021 South Korean Championships. Due to this result, she became a member of the Korean national team.

2021–2022 season: International junior debut
Kim made her international junior debut at the 2021 JGP France II, the second of two Junior Grand Prix events held in Courchevel in August. She placed second in both the short program and the free skate to finish second overall between American skater Isabeau Levito and Canadian Kaiya Ruiter. At her second JGP assignment of the season, the 2021 JGP Slovakia, Kim finished off the podium in fifth place.

In January 2022, Kim placed tenth in the senior women's category at the 2022 South Korean Figure Skating Championships.

Following the season, Kim made a coaching change from longtime coach, Han Sung-mi, to Chi Hyun-jung.

2022–2023 season: JGP Final bronze, breakout senior season
Kim opened her season back on the Junior Grand Prix circuit at the 2022 JGP Poland I, the first of two JGP events held in Gdańsk. She placed third in both segments of competition to win the bronze medal overall behind Japanese competitors Mao Shimada and Mone Chiba. The following week, Kim made her international senior debut at the 2022 CS Finlandia Trophy in Espoo. She placed third in the short program and second in the free skate, setting new personal bests in both segments of competition, as well as overall, to win the silver medal between compatriot Kim Ye-lim and Georgian skater Anastasiia Gubanova. The week after that, she competed at her second Junior Grand Prix assignment, the 2022 JGP Italy. After winning the short program in Egna, she took the silver medal behind Japan's Hana Yoshida, in the process qualifying for the 2022–23 Junior Grand Prix Final.

At the Junior Grand Prix Final in Turin, Kim placed third in the short program despite one of her triple jumps being deemed a quarter short of rotation. She was narrowly third as well in the free skate, winning the bronze medal. Kim and silver medalist Shin Ji-a were the first Korean women to medal at the event since Kim Yu-na in 2005. She noted that Kim Yu-na had inspired her to begin skating, saying "I tried to learn her choreography and her jumping technique, she is my role model."

Kim finished fourth at the 2023 South Korean Championships. However, with national champion Shin ineligible for international senior competition, South Korea's third berths at senior ISU championships were assigned to Kim. Competing at the 2023 Four Continents Championships in Colorado Springs, Kim placed third in the short program with a new personal best score of 71.39, winning a bronze small medal. She had the highest technical score in the segment. Fifth in the free skate with errors on both her triple flip attempts, she dropped to fourth place overall, 2.59 points behind bronze medalist Chiba.

At the 2023 World Championships in Saitama, Kim finished twelfth in the short program after stepping out of her opening triple Lutz, missing the intended triple-triple combination. Although she was able to tack on a triple toe loop to the back end of her triple flip later in the program, the second jump was deemed underrotated by the technical panel. Following her performance, Kim stated that she was "very, very nervous" heading into the short program, although "happy about the great support from fans." In the free skate held two days later, Kim set a new personal best of 139.45 points after landing seven clean triple jumps including a triple Lutz-triple toe combination and earning Level 4s on all of her spins and footwork. For her performance, she received a small bronze medal for the free skate, vaulting herself up to sixth place overall.

2023–2024 season: World bronze and Four Continents silver
Beginning the season on the Challenger circuit, Kim won the bronze medal at the 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy before taking gold at the 2023 CS Nepela Memorial. She was invited to make her senior Grand Prix debut, appearing first at the 2023 Skate Canada International, where she was the youngest of the twelve women competing. She finished second in the short program and fourth in the free skate, coming second overall and taking the silver medal. After the free skate, she remarked "I didn't skate clean, but I am very happy with the result." Kim came third in the short program at the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo, but dropped to fourth place after a difficult free skate.

Kim reached the podium at the 2024 South Korean Championships, claiming the bronze medal. Assigned next to the 2024 Four Continents Championships in Shanghai, she finished second in the short program. Third in the free skate, she remained second overall, winning the silver medal, her first at an ISU championship. She reflected that after some disappointing results in the first half of the season, this result had "boosted my confidence."

Finishing the season at the 2024 World Championships, held in Montreal, Kim was sixth in the short program after receiving an incorrect edge call on a triple flip and an underrotation on the back end of her jump combination. Both of her triple flips in the free skate similarly were judged to have an incorrect edge, and her triple Salchow was called a quarter underrotated, but she placed third in the segment and moved up to third place overall, winning the bronze medal. This made her the third Korean woman to win a World medal, after Kim Yu-na and Lee Hae-in.

Competitive highlights
CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

Senior level
''Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. Personal bests highlighted in'' bold.

Junior level
''Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. Personal bests highlighted in'' bold.