2010 Olympic figure skating champion Yuna Kim performed the last of her farewell ice shows in Seoul on Tuesday.
“I’m officially ending my career as an athlete here,” she said, trying to hold back tears in a press conference, according to the Korea Times. “I have been really happy.”
They marked the South Korean’s “last appearance on ice as a figure skater,” according to Yonhap News Agency. Kim said “looking back” on her career made her cry.
“I want to take a good rest after this event,” she said, according to the Korea Times. “Getting ready for this show has kept me busy. I have received more love and support than I deserve.”
Kim won a controversial silver at the Sochi Olympics behind Russian Adelina Sotnikova. The Korea Skating Union filed a complaint to the International Skating Union over the makeup of the judging panel, which included a judge married to a top Russian figure skating official and another who was suspended as part of the 1998 Olympic ice dancing scandal.
“In hindsight, it was not the medal or performance that raised me up when things were difficult,” Kim said, according to the newspaper. “It was you. Thank you very much for encouraging me.”
