South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na declined Tuesday to be drawn into the heated row over the women’s figure skating competition in Sochi, where many believe she was robbed of a repeat Olympic gold medal.
The 2010 Vancouver Olympics champion won silver in Sochi behind Russian skater Adelina Sotnikova, despite turning in a characteristically error-free performance.
“I am satisfied that I could perform well in my last competition,” said Kim, who confirmed her retirement from competitive skating after the Games.
Speaking to reporters as the South Korean Olympic team returned to Seoul, Kim sidestepped questions about the judging in Sochi.
“I am just grateful that many people spoke well of my performance,” she said.
The defending champion, 23, was seeking to become the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic titles in figure skating since Germany’s Katarina Witt in 1988.
Dubbed “Queen Yu-Na” by her adoring fans, Kim is one of South Korea’s biggest celebrities.
Her unexpected defeat sparked fury in the country. Nearly two million people — the vast majority of them South Koreans — signed an online petition calling for an inquiry and a review of the result.
Aside from her two Olympics medals, Kim has won two world championships.