Eunsoo Lim is a very special skater who has been competing internationally as early as 2013 during her novice days. She officially retired from competition during a group number with other retired skaters at the Four Continents Championships held in Korea and we had a chance to discuss about her retirement as well as other skating related ventures she has done since her last competition!
What made you decide to retire?
Eunsoo: I was thinking about skating and, well, I am still young and I know that. First of all, I was thinking about Olympics which I couldn't make and that's fine. I did a lot of things like I go to the World Championships and I went to Four Continents which was also held here [in Korea]. Now, I feel like I'm done. I tried my best and now I feel like what is my goal? I'm kind of lost and I just realized that maybe I want to try another thing. Maybe I want to move on to the next step. So that's why I decided to retire.
There's so many fans were really sad before that they couldn't see any sort of "final performance" since it has been so long since your last competitive skate, and now they finally got to see a final performance! How did it feel skating?
I was actually thinking, I never expected to do my last performance at Four Continents because I was thinking of skating at a little competition, and then I was suggested "What if you skated at Four Continents?". I thought that it could be very good because there's a lot of international fans who might come so that I could say goodbye to a lot of fans. At least more than a little competition in Korea. I'm very happy to stay here to be with everyone for my last time.
How did the joint performance with Dabin [Choi] and Seoyeong [Wi] happen?
I thought first time I was the only one at first. I'm not sure how it happened but there was more skaters which was good! They all retired this season so I think it's more meaningful to skate all together and retire in Korea. I think that's why that happened. I actually don't really know the logistics but yeah! I didn't decide it but it just happened like that one week ago!
What was a highlight of your competitive career?
There's so many... There were a lot of competition, Maybe I could say the senior Grand Prix [Rostelecom Cup 2018] where I've got third place or the World Championships [2019]. That was my first World Championships and there were a lot of skaters in that time and there were many Russian skaters. That was very hard, but still, I did my best. I am proud of what I did then.
You've traveled to a lot of places to compete internationally. Do you have a favorite place where you have competed?
I went Japan a lot, and China. Japan was pretty good! I think because they're very warm and very supportive. There's a lot of fans which made me nervous sometimes but it was still great to feel like there's a lot of people there to support me.
Looking back at your career programs. Do you have a favourite one?
There's a lot also but I could say Somewhere in Time as it is everyone's favourite. I also like Sabrina!
Since your last competition and now, you also did G-Show! Would you ever consider doing more ice shows in the future?
I would love to get a chance to do an ice show again, but in Korea, we don't have many ice show here so I don't know if I can. If I can get a chance to, I'd like be a member of an ice show again. I'm very open. It would be good. I would try if somebody would give me a chance.
That's good to hear! We want to see you on the ice if we can in the future!
You also did choreography recently for Jaekeun's short program. What's the process like doing choreography?
Actually, it was very hard. It was very difficult to be creative because I'm more of a realistic person so it was kind of hard but I I tried to learn, and I tried to be creative. I've learned a lot of things while doing choreography. I watched it a lot of videos. I tried to make progress to improve.
I feel like I enjoyed it! So really, if there is some any chance to keep doing it, I want to try it and improve.
A lot of people say that they see a lot of like you in Jaekeun's short program. Does it feel good that your skating shows throughout your choreography?
Yes! I am definitely sure that I have my kind of "thing" that I put in his program. Of course, I did that program! But I feel like I really tried my best for his short program. I tried something new for him because he always did something more classical. I was like, maybe, just to get ready for senior, it's better for him to try something new. Something more manly and mature.
You also did Minchae's free skate. How did you come up with that choreography? In the program she does an ina bauer and where it is in the choreography is really beautiful. When you come up with choreography for other skaters, do you make sure to play to their strengths?
Yes, of course, because in their program, they should be the centre of the program. So I try to make it like that. And for her, I think she kind of skates similarly like me. So it was easier than others. And she improved a lot! She picked the music and I tried to find out what's good ans what fits. So I think that works and is a really good program that I like.
Do you have a preference in choreographing for competitive or exhibition programs? Since you've done both.
For the exhibition, it's more free. If you're picking the music, also, you feel more free. For Chaeyeon's exhibition, I also thought she never does very adorable or lovely programs. I feel like some part of her wanted to try it but she's a little bit unconfident for that. But I feel like maybe the exhibition could be it where it could be work. So I just tried to make it something lovely and I think it really works!
When you do choreography for any skater, is there something you focus on?
Actually, my focus for now is that I'm not trying to put some crazy stuff. I'm not trying to make it too much. I want to try to make it clean. Like, if you do one movement, you should be clean and long and beautiful where you don't mess the movement. If you don't make the move 100%, it might look empty sometimes, but I try to balance between that. For now, I am very focused on the quality of the movements.
And is there a piece of music you'd like to do choreography for in the future?
For now, I think I kind of try something new. So I tried to put lines in the music so that the program looks like a short movie. I really like the music that feels lovely for women and I really like something a bit more sexy and mature for men. Like very manly. I prefer that music, but I don't know there's no music, but just the vibes.
You've also done a lot of coaching for the Choi team and you work with many of the younger skaters. Is there something you like to teach them when you're coaching them?
It's very hard to say which part I like. I'm just on my way to learning as well. The funny thing is that I kind of realized that "Oh, I should have done this when I was a skater". Sometimes I feel like I don't know... I can feel some parts where there are mistakes so it's kind of funny. I feel like I am there improving with the younger skaters and learning with them.
You did your commentary debut at Spot TV for Asian Games. How was that?
Oh my god, I did a lot of research. Actually, I don't really watch many videos of a lot for the other skaters during the time that I was a skater. However, this time I watched a lot of skaters and I wrote down a lot a notes because I didn't want to make a mistake. I studied a lot. I wanted to try something new. Just something I can do as a skater and as a coach. As a commentator, there are some things that I can see, that somebody can't see. I can say why a skater made a mistake or what they should they improve on. I can focus on that.
Would you ever do it again?
If I get a good chance for that, yes! I enjoyed it.
Your life outside the rink: you're graduating soon from college, you've retired, and you are coaching. What is life like?
For now, I'm coaching. I'm studying sports business so I am finishing university. I'm kind of balancing both of them which is not easy. I'm kind of on my way to figuring it out. What am I going to do for the future? Like, in figure skating, there's a lot of options. In the coaching system; you can coach jumps and choreography, be a choreographer, and I'm kind of trying to figure out what I am going to do? I am figuring out what's best for me and what is the best that I can do? I am still on my way to figuring it out.
Many people still remember and love you as a competitive skater. Some get into skating from watching a video of you. How would you like to be remembered to those as an athlete?
Well, that's a very hard question. Maybe for now, just thinking right now... Maybe I want to be remembered as a skater who was beautiful. Figure skating is not only a sport. We have an artistic part. So I want people to think of me like "Oh, she was different. She was something."
Final question is something you'd like to say to your fans?
Well, I'm gonna cry. I just want to say thank you so much with all my heart, because I don't really know them or some of the people, but still, they really love me.
They keep staying there for me when I'm invisible, when I'm not perfect, and when I made mistakes... they were still there. That really that means a lot. That meant a lot for me when I was a skater. That's why I didn't give up at times. I would say thank you so much for their warm support. Thank you for their warm hearts, their letters, their little presents, their words. That means the world to me.