Kim Minji

Tell us about how you started speed skating.

I started speed skating to see my dad more often. He is a speed skating coach. Also, my brother had begun skating, so it was natural for me to start skating.

Skaters seem to have an inner-lane or outer-lane preference. Which lane do you prefer to start on?

I'm a short-distance skater. So if I start on the inner lane I would finish on the outer lane and vice versa.

I always prefer to finish the race on the inner lane. So for the 500 m, I prefer starting on the outer lane, and for the 1000 m, I prefer starting on the inner lane.

Races usually get tiring towards the end, so I prefer finishing on the inner lane. Also, I can see my competitor in front of me, so my records tend to be reduced.

How do you deal with accidents that happen during training or competitions?

I sometimes feel like I'll get injured. Whenever I get that feeling, I just don't train. There's no good way to prevent injuries.

I picked up a knee injury in June last year. I thought I'd be okay at first, but the pain got worse and worse. Eventually I worked on strengthening the muscles around my knee.

I was okay mentally though. I just thought of the injury as a little break before the Beijing Olympics.

In one of your races, your competitor had tripped. Records in speed skating are often affected by who you're racing. How do you deal with situations like that?

In that race, I was a little distracted obviously, but I tried to take my mind off it. I just try to focus on myself and keep my pace. And to be honest, I'm too focused on my own race to be paying attention to what's happening.

What are your strengths and weaknesses as a speed skater?

Because I mainly race short distances, the start is very important. I'm very quick with the first push at the start.

However, I'm not so strong in maintaining the pace as the race goes on. I think this is something I could improve on as a skater.

What did you think about WaveWear?

When I injured my knee, the K2 knee sleeves helped a lot.

I was in quite a bit of pain and I wasn't able to train without taping. But with the K2 sleeves, I didn't need the taping and I could train, so that was awesome. I like the T20 compression top as well. If I wear it underneath the uniform, it helps a lot with the race.

Tell us about your goals in the future.

I'd like to compete in the Beijing Olympics and hopefully win a medal. After that, I want to be an athlete at the top of the game.

But I try not to think too far ahead. I feel like that would take away the focus. I want to focus on the present.

Kim Minji, Korea National Sport University

ISU 4 Continents Speed Skating Team Sprint Silver Medal. The women's middle school women's 1000m gold medal at the 97th National Winter Sports Festival.

The women's middle school women's gold medal in the 500m speed skating at the 97th National Winter Sports Festival. 1st place in women's middle school 500m at the National Men's and Women's Comprehensive Speed Skating Championships.