GDANSK, Poland — South Korean figure skating phenom Kim Yu-jae clinched a gold medal at the 2025–2026 International Skating Union (ISU) Figure Skating Junior Grand Prix event in Gdansk, Poland, securing her a coveted spot in the season-ending Junior Grand Prix Final for the first time in her career.
Kim, a student at Suri High School, delivered a spectacular free skate performance that earned her a score of 137.17 points, comprised of 76.24 for technical elements and 60.93 for components. Combining this with her short program score of 62.69, she posted a total of 199.86, completing a dramatic comeback from third place to overtake second-place finisher Alicja Rengielova of Slovakia (191.53 points).
The defining moment of her performance was the successful execution of a triple Axel, a notoriously difficult three-and-a-half rotation jump. Kim is one of only a handful of Korean skaters to have landed the jump in competition, a select group that includes her twin sister Kim Yu-seong and senior skater Yu Young. The successful triple Axel not only showcased her technical prowess but also provided a critical boost to her score, paving the way for her gold medal finish.
This victory adds 15 ranking points to the 13 points she earned from a silver medal at the second Junior Grand Prix event, bringing her total to 28 points. This places her in a tie for first place in the season's rankings, guaranteeing her a spot among the top six skaters who will compete in the Junior Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan, this December.
The excitement surrounding Kim's accomplishment is compounded by the possibility of a historic first for South Korean figure skating. Her twin sister, Kim Yu-seong, a two-time participant in the Final, also has a strong chance of qualifying. With a gold medal at the fifth Junior Grand Prix event and a total of 22 ranking points, Kim Yu-seong is currently in fifth place. If both sisters qualify, it will mark the first time that Korean siblings have competed together on the prestigious Junior Grand Prix Final stage.
Another Korean skater, Go Na-yeon, who also competed in the event, finished in eighth place with a total score of 154.19 points.
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