Outrage as S.Korea speed skater becomes Russian

[unreal.livejournal.com]

Local fans attacked Korea skating administrators Wednesday after star speed skater Ahn Hyun-Soo -- a national sporting hero and triple Olympic champion -- switched his citizenship to compete for Russia.

Ahn was reportedly disenchanted with factional infighting within the Korea Skating Union (KSU).

Ahn, also a five-time short track world gold medallist, said Wednesday he had decided to renounce his South Korean citizenship and become Russian in order to appear for his new country at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.

The star has been training in Russia since June this year, after he fell into a slump due to knee injury in 2008. He failed to make the South Koraen national team for the 2010 Vancouver Games.


"I've decided to work in better environment and keep myself focused on the sport," Ahn, 25, said on his Internet homepage.

When he gains Russian citizenship, his South Korean nationality will automatically be nullified, said Ahn.

"I will practise earnestly in order to show my best performance in the upcoming Olympic games and not to regret my decision," he said.

Yonhap news agency said Ahn had become "disenchanted with endless factional disputes" within the KSU and decided to move to Russia to start afresh in new environment.

His father, Ahn Ki-Won, was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency: "He's been deeply hurt. He had no supporters here."

Fans were outraged and deluged the KSU website with condemnations.

"Shame on you. The union must apologise and tackle the problem," a user named as paxsky16 wrote on the site.

"Short track events used to keep people glued to TV screens but if factional disputes drive the fans away, the sport in this country will collapse sooner or later," the user continued.

Another comment left by uiu777 said the union was responsible for Ahn's decision.

"This is really a sad thing. The Korea Skating Union's fault in failing to protect Ahn is something deplorable," uiu777 said.

Kim Beom-Ju, a senior KSU official, admitted that the organisation had been riven with in-house rivalry "in the past," but blamed Ahn's injury and long slump, coupled with economic reasons, for his decision.

"It is just regrettable that we've lost a good skater. I hope he may do well in Russia," he told AFP.

Ahn father's said the skater would take part in the selection competition next month for Russia's national team for international events.

The Russian Skaters Union (RSU) and the country's sports ministry have asked the presidential citizenship board to grant Ahn Russian citizenship, the RSU press service reported Tuesday.

"He renounced his Korean citizenship and decided to put his faith in Russia," said RSU president Alexei Kravtsov.

The RSU chief added that he was hoping that Ahn would receive a Russian passport in October.

The sensational move comes as Russia seeks to win around a dozen gold medals at the Sochi Games, at a time when its Soviet-era dominance of winter sports is on the wane.

South Korea leads the all-time short track medal tally at the Olympics with 19 gold medals and 37 overall.

Source: afp

Comments

[hzuki.livejournal.com]

Oh shiiiiiiiiiiii! The only relevant Team Russia person at the 2014 Sochi Olympics is still going to be Plushenko though. (yes, I'm delusional)

I hope he finds the support he wants in Russia

[aponny.livejournal.com]

Plushenko is a really old meme. :DDD Here, in Russia, he's known for his scandalous love life & shady reputation more than for his actual achivements. ))

[hzuki.livejournal.com]

O AO Really? But but he's married!

[caribgirl98.livejournal.com]

I find this hilarious. Poor Korea, this must be a hit to their national pride.

[831panda831.livejournal.com]

I dont see why he should get hate for this people change nationality all the time he shouldn't be exempt for it :\

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

I hope he does really well and shut the haters up. Go Hyun-Soo!

Speed skating is so impressive to watch. I saw it once live and I was all "o_______O".

[tothechangmin.livejournal.com]

whoa O__O

side note i watched the speed skating events for the previous winer olympics on tv and he was really impressive *O*

[jela-ow.livejournal.com]

We all know how proud Korea is of their achievements so it must be a huge blow to them that a talented athlete changed citizenship after becoming disenchanted with their skating union.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

He's taking a stand for the sport, good for him.

[k0dama.livejournal.com]

exactly this

[lushontop.livejournal.com]

What happens when his skating career is over and he misses his homeland? :/

[lovebum4life.livejournal.com]

He can go back to Korea? Just b/c he changes his nationality doesn't mean he can't go into Korea right o_O

also ppl change their nationality all the time to play sports so I guess it won't be all that different then what happens to most ppl.

[lushontop.livejournal.com]

Thanks for clearing that up, I thought countries were cracking down on that regarding athletes changing citizenship strictly for competition.
I hope the mess gets resolved so others are not contemplating a similar decision.

[amina-yui.livejournal.com]

He can still go back. He just won't be a citizen.

[lushontop.livejournal.com]

I realize he can travel back to visit even for a couple years w/ a F4 visa but I was just pondering the enormity of his decision...it just depresses me that he had to give up his citizenship, perhaps because I had to give mine up as well though I was very little and for a totally different reason.
I hope Russia treats him well and he finds a supportive collective to train & live amongst. Will definitely be rooting for his success & happiness.

[mizukigirl.livejournal.com]

Good for him!!

[yuki-yang.livejournal.com]

Aww...good for him.
It shows that he really love this sport...
Looking forward to seeing him!