'Was it the Olympic Taegeuk mark?' Im Hae-na, switching from Korea to Canada: "Preparing for the next Olympics with a new partner"... Promising prospect Kwon Min-sol also departs

*This content was translated by AI.

Im Hae-na (22), who represented South Korea in ice dance at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, will continue her skating career representing Canada.

According to a report by global figure skating media outlet "Golden Skate" on the 10th, Im Hae-na has parted ways with her partner Kwon Ye and formed a new team with Canadian-born Zachary Laga. Im stated, "While I am grateful for Korea's support, I believe it is the right choice to represent Canada with my new partner," outlining her goal of competing in the next Olympics.

Im Hae-na, who holds dual Korean-Canadian citizenship, achieved results at international competitions alongside Kwon Ye, who acquired Korean nationality through special naturalization, and even competed on the Olympic stage last February. However, immediately after the event concluded, she suddenly announced the dissolution of their team, forfeiting her status as a South Korean national representative.

Under International Olympic Committee (IOC) regulations allowing athletes to compete for another country in the Olympics three years after their last international competition appearance, there are no restrictions on Im Hae-na's participation in the 2030 Olympics.

This decision is expected to reignite controversy over "one-time special naturalization" for Olympic qualification. Previously, Alexander Gamelin, who competed via special naturalization at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, also disbanded his team and left the national squad immediately after the Games. Kwon Ye's future plans remain uncertain.

Meanwhile, Kwon Min-sol, once considered a promising figure skating women's singles skater, has officially switched to Canada by joining the 2026-2027 season national roster announced by the Canadian Figure Skating Association.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.