"My parents have always supported me," said Kim, an only child. "I miss them and I know they are praying for me."

A native of Seoul, South Korea, Kim began speedskating when she was 11 years old. After moving to Fullerton, Calif., she continued the sport and traveled to Colorado Springs, Colo., just nine months ago to train at the Olympic Training Center.

"I started speedskating on my own in Korea," said Kim. "I had it in P.E. class when I was in elementary school."

Kim, who turned 16 earlier this month, is preparing for her next World Cup Short Track competition in Madison, Wis., Nov. 26-28. With her international debut this past August, she has amazed the speedskating world by placing second at the 2004 U.S. Short Track Championships.

At her first World Cup in October, Kim, who competes on the junior and senior level, placed ninth in the 1,500m, 11th in the 1,000m and 16th in the 500m in Harbin, China. One week later at the second World Cup in Beijing, China, she improved with an eighth-place performance in the 1,000m and finished 10th in the 500m. Following her results at the first and second World Cups, Kim was satisfied, but noted there is room for improvement.

"I was pretty happy," said Kim, who was ranked sixth overall at the Beijing competition, "but I need more practice. The first and second World Cups were a good experience for me. My goal was to finish 10th, so I was pleased."

Qualifying at the American Cup 1 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Nov. 13-14, for the third and fourth World Cups, Kim expects a higher outcome, hoping to make the finals in the 1,500m and 3,000m relay and the semifinals in the 1,000m and 500m.

"I want to finish better than I did at the first and second World Cups," said Kim. "And I want to be smarter competing and make the finals."

For Kim, reaching her goals is important. And as she looks down the road to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, an even bigger challenge awaits her. The Olympic Games have been sketched in Kim’s mind for several years, but now it’s a more realistic vision for her.

"When I was 14 years old, I knew I wanted to make it to the Olympics," said Kim. "During hard practices, I say, ‘I have to do this…it’s my goal.’"

Kim’s determination has not only helped her succeed in speedskating, but it has made it easier for her to overcome obstacles along the way. Suffering a shin injury last August, she kept her positive attitude and with a careful recovery, she was back in her skates in no time.

"It was from too much running," said Kim. "I rested for a month and a half and started training again little by little."

So far, Kim’s favorite competition of her career was her second World Cup last month. It wasn’t for her exceptional finish, but because she came face to face with a familiar opponent.

"I was competing against China’s Yang Yang (A)," said Kim. "She was my goal, because when I was very young, around 10 years old, I saw her on television, and I knew I wanted to compete against her."

In the 1,500m race where Kim finished 11th, Yang Yang (A), who won China's first-ever winter Olympic gold medal in Salt Lake in 2002, was disqualified for impeding.

Kim, a 10th grader, takes correspondence courses on the Internet to keep up with school. With training and schoolwork, she says the most important thing for her right now is practice. However, when time permits she enjoys reading and listening to music.

Prior to each competition, Kim is full of excitement like many athletes before a major contest, but she tries to focus on mind control.

"I just think how I can compete better and I just try to relax," said Kim.

Kim is excited for the opportunity to see her parents again in March. But until then, Kim will keep lacing up her skates, racing for the USA and making her move towards Italy.