2006年VOA标准英语-South Korean Speedskater Kim Hyo-Jung Glid

By Steve Schy
Washington
17 January 2006

Kim Hyo-Jung  
  

Kim Hyo-Jung, 17, left her native South Korea and family two years ago to get a fresh start in speedskating, after what she describes as bad experiences with the South Korean short track team.  Kim battled through homesickness and language barriers to secure a spot on the United States team getting ready to compete in next month's Turin Olympics.

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Kim Hyo-Jung's parents came to the United States on business in 1979 and lived in the Los Angeles area for 12 years.  She was born and raised in Seoul but holds dual¹ South Korean and U.S. citizenship² because her father became an American citizen during his years in California.

Speedskating is very popular in South Korea and Kim Hyo-Jung got her start on the ice during elementary school physical education classes.  But as she progressed, she became disenchanted with the rigorous³ training regimen of her South Korean club team.  Kim trained six days a week, skating two hours in the morning, doing dry land training consisting of running and stretching in the middle of the day, then skating another two hours in the evening.
 
And while she enjoyed it at first, Kim says she could not spend enough time on her studies because there were too many practices.  She began having trouble with her coach, and things went downhill from there.

"I really don't want to train with Korean [team], because I did not really have a good experience over there," she said.  "I am not saying the Korean club is bad.  I do not want to say what exactly, [but] I did not really have a good experience.  It is really hard to say [talk about] the Korean club, because that is not like every club - only my club.  And I think they like their club [laughs].  I do not want Americans to think the Korean club is bad."

The Kim chose her words very carefully when talking about the problems with her coach, whom she refused to identify.  

 
Kim Hyo-Jung
  
"I do not like to keep in my mind bad experiences," she added.  "He taught me a lot, so that is why I do not want to say bad things about him, because he taught me for four or five years.  He just did not teach me honestly."

Asked why she did not just quit because of all the problems, Kim Hyo-Jung had a simple answer.

"Because I love skating…  I love skating," she explained.

Kim left her country and family in January of 2004 to move to the United States and follow her Olympic dream.  But things at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado were difficult at first.  She did not speak English, had no close friends and was homesick.  She strongly disliked American food.

Because of her talent, Kim's arrival meant she would probably beat out one of her teammates for a spot on the squad⁴.  But rather than resenting⁵ her, the other American speedskaters have helped her adjust to her new life.

Her teammates, who call Kim by her adopted name "Halie," have become like a family of big sisters and brothers.  They help her with homework and have taken her on numerous excursions, including canoeing, water skiing and a trip to the Mall of America in Minneapolis.  Halie says she likes American style and freedom, and enjoys taking more responsibility for her training. 

"Well, when I was in Korea, the coach pressured me," she recalled.  "I did not really have to think I have to do this or that because the coach pressured me.  But here I have to think about everything - technique, or skating or even training.  That is what I like here."

Halie's goal of making it to the Olympics has been her big motivation on the ice.  She gets through hard practices by reminding herself that she has to work as hard as she can to reach her goal.  And that hard work has paid off.  Kim won in all of the distances of her races at last month's U.S. championships in Marquette, Michigan.

Her dominant⁶ performance earned her the overall title and a berth⁷ on the U.S. Olympic Team.  She will compete in the 500, 1000 and 1,500 meter races in Turin.  Halie is philosophical⁸ about her expectations.

"If I do my best, any color will be fine.  But of course I want a gold medal," she added.

U.S. speedskating president Andy Gabel calls Kim "remarkable⁹" and says she is so young and has such "amazing potential" that she is the type of skater they can build a team around.  And "Halie" Kim will try to fulfill¹⁰ her potential by making it to the Olympic podium in Turin.

1 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

2 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

3 rigorous   

adj.严密的，缜密的，严格的，严厉的

参考例句：

• The arms trade should be subject to rigorous controls.对军火贸易应该严加限制。
• The planes have to undergo rigorous safety checks.飞机必须经过严密的安全检查。

4 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

5 resenting   

对…感到愤怒( resent的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Far from resenting such tutelage, I am only too glad to avail myself of it. 我决不憎恨这种教育，相反，我十分高兴对它加以利用。
• "I've been sick, I told you," he said, peevishly, almost resenting her excessive pity. “我生了一场病，我告诉过你了，"他没好气地说，对她的过分怜悯几乎产生了怨恨。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

6 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

7 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

8 philosophical   

adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的

参考例句：

• The teacher couldn't answer the philosophical problem.老师不能解答这个哲学问题。
• She is very philosophical about her bad luck.她对自己的不幸看得很开。

9 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

10 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。