Choi Da-bin
Choi at the 2018 Winter Olympics
Native name최다빈
Born (2000-01-19) January 19, 2000 (age 24)
Seoul, South Korea
HometownNamyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Height1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)
Figure skating career
CountrySouth Korea South Korea
CoachShin Hea-sook
Began skating2004
Medal record
Representing  South Korea
Figure skating: Ladies' singles
Asian Winter Games

Gold medal – first place 2017 Sapporo Ladies' singles
Choi Da-bin
Hangul
최다빈
Hanja
崔 多彬
Revised RomanizationChoe Dabin
McCune–ReischauerCh'oe Tabin

Choi Da-bin (Hangul: 최다빈; born January 19, 2000) is a South Korean figure skater. She is the 2017 Asian Winter Games champion and a 5-time South Korean national medalist (three silver, two bronze). She has placed in the top ten at the 2018 Winter Olympics, the 2017 World Championships, the Four Continents Championships (2016, 2017, 2018). Earlier in her career, she won two bronze medals during the 2015–16 ISU Junior Grand Prix series in Austria and Latvia. She has placed in the top ten at the World Junior Championships (2014, 2015).

Personal life

Choi was born on January 19, 2000, in Seoul.[6] She attended Suri High School as a student, same as fellow skater Kim Yuna .[7]

Choi's mother died on June 26, 2017, while battling cancer.[8] Choi has said that her mother was her biggest supporter and fan. Her 2017-18 season short program 'Papa Can You Hear Me?' was dedicated to her.

She currently studies Sports Psychology at Korea University Graduate School.[9]

Career

Early years

As a nine-year-old, Choi won the novice silver medal at the 2010 South Korean Nationals. Competing on the senior level, she won bronze medals at the 2012 and 2013 Nationals.

2013–2014 season: Junior international debut

In the 2013–14 season, Choi debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series, finishing fourth and fifth at her two events. At the 2014 World Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, she placed ninth in the short program, sixth in the free skate, and sixth overall, setting a new personal best score of 162.35 points.

2014–2015 season

In the 2014–15 season, Choi finished fourth and fifth at her JGP events in France and Japan. At the 2015 South Korean Nationals, she placed second in both programs to win silver behind Park So-youn. At the 2015 World Junior Championships, she placed ninth in both programs and ninth overall, thus securing two spots for her country at the 2016 edition.

2015–2016 season: Two JGP medals and senior international debut

In the 2015–16 season, Choi won her first JGP medals, taking bronze in Riga, Latvia, and Linz, Austria. Making her senior international debut, Choi finished eighth at the 2015 CS Tallinn Trophy. At the 2015 KSU President Cup Ranking Competition, she won her first gold medal at a national competition. At the 2016 Four Continents Championships in Taipei, Taiwan, she placed 8th with personal bests in the free skate and total scores.

2016–2017 season: Winter Asian Games champion

Making her senior Grand Prix debut, Choi placed 7th at the 2016 Skate Canada International and 8th at the 2016 NHK Trophy. She placed fourth at the 2017 South Korean Championships. She changed her short program music from Qué rico el mambo into Steven Universe and La La Land in the middle of the season.[10] She also changed coaches, deciding to join Lee Eun-hee.[7] She placed fifth at the 2017 Four Continents Championships in Gangneung, South Korea, improving her personal best scores in all categories.

Called up to replace the injured Park So-youn at the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan, Choi won her country's first-ever figure skating gold medal at the event.[10][11] South Korea also selected Choi to replace the injured Kim Na-hyun at the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.[11] She would place tenth in Finland, allowing her country to send two ladies' single skaters to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and 2018 World Championships in Milan.

2017–2018 season: 2018 Winter Olympics

Choi at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Choi began the season competing at the 2017 CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy, placing fourth. At the first of her two assignments on the 2017-18 Grand Prix circuit, the 2017 Cup of China, she placed a disappointing ninth, hampered by a foot injury. She subsequently withdrew from her second Grand Prix event at the 2017 Skate America as a result of the injury.[12]

Choi and Kim Ha-nul were selected to compete at both the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, and the 2018 World Figure Skating Championships in Milan, Italy. They were joined by Park So-youn for the 2018 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Taipei, Taiwan.

At the Four Continents Championships, Choi missed the podium, coming in fourth just behind Japan's Satoko Miyahara. Choi reverted to her Doctor Zhivago free skate program for this and all subsequent competitions for the season, citing the difficulty in performing its replacement to the standard she desired.[13]

Choi received a standing ovation for her short program at the Olympics, including from South Korea's Yuna Kim. She set personal bests in both the short program and free skate and finished seventh overall.[14] Her short program for the season, set to "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" was dedicated to her mother, who had died shortly before the South Korean qualifying event. Choi commented following her performance in the team event: "I am very thankful to my mother, who is watching me from Heaven."[15]

After skating the short program at the 2018 World Championships, Choi was compelled to withdraw due to equipment failure.[16]

Following the season, Choi made a coaching change from Lee Eun-hee to Shin Hea-sook.[17]

2018–2019 season

Although assigned to compete at 2018 Ondrej Nepela Trophy, 2018 Skate Canada, and 2018 NHK Trophy, Choi withdrew from all three events due to continued boot problems. She didn't compete for the rest of the 2018–19 figure skating season.[18]

During the off-season, Choi participated in the 2019 All That Skate show.[19]

2019–2020 season

Returning to international competition, Choi began the 2019–20 figure skating season with a seventh-place finish at 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy. She then went on to finish fourth at the 2019 Denis Ten Memorial Challenge and twelfth at 2019 CS Warsaw Cup. Choi did not compete at the 2020 Korean Championships.[20]

2021–2022 season

Despite not competing for the first half of the 2021–22 figure skating season, Choi was assigned to compete at 2021 Winter Universiade, however, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Choi announced during a guest appearance on South Korean TV show, Sporty Sisters 2, that she would likely retire from competitive figure skating following the season, citing her struggles with boot problems and ankle injuries as the main reason behind the decision.[21]

2022–2023 season: Return to competition

Despite Choi's previous intention to retire from competitive figure skating, she decided to return to competition for the 2022–23 figure skating season, stating that her goal was to compete at 2023 Winter University Games.[22]

Choi began her season with a bronze medal and eighteenth-place finish at the 2022 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge and 2022 CS Ice Challenge, respectively. She went on to finish fourteenth at the 2023 Korean Championships, after placing twelfth in the short program but fourteenth in the free skate.

Choi was selected to compete at the Winter University Games, where she placed sixth in both the short and free program, finishing in sixth place overall.[20]

2023–2024 season

Appearing on the Challenger circuit, Choi finished fifth at the 2023 CS Autumn Classic International. She then went on to win silver at the 2023 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge.[23]

Choi went on to finish fifteenth at the national ranking competition and thirteenth at the 2024 South Korean Championships.[23][24]

Programs

Choi performing her gala program "Jeongseon Arirang Rapsody" at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Choi performing a Biellmann spin during her free skate "Andante spianato" at the 2015 World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2023-2024
[25]
2022-2023
[20]
2019–2020
2018–2019
[17]
2017–2018
[29][30]
  • Jeongseon Arirang Rapsody[31]
2016–2017
[6][10][32][33]
2015–2016
[34]
2014–2015
[35]
2013–2014
[36]
2012–2013
2011–2012
2010–2011 unknown

Competitive highlights

2013–14 to present

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

International[23]
Event 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 22–23 23–24
Olympics 7th
Worlds 14th 10th WD
Four Continents 8th 5th 4th
GP Skate America WD
GP Skate Canada 7th WD
GP Cup of China 9th
GP NHK Trophy 9th WD
CS Autumn Classic 5th
CS Denis Ten Memorial 3rd 2nd
CS Finlandia 9th
CS Ice Challenge 18th
CS Nebelhorn 7th
CS Ondrej Nepela 4th 4th WD
CS Tallinn Trophy 8th
CS U.S. Classic 4th
CS Warsaw Cup 12th
Asian Games 1st
Asian Trophy 2nd
Denis Ten MC 4th
University Games 6th
International: Junior[23]
Junior Worlds 6th 9th
JGP Austria 3rd
JGP Belarus 4th
JGP France 5th
JGP Japan 4th
JGP Latvia 3rd
JGP Mexico 5th
Asian Trophy 3rd 2nd
Triglav Trophy 1st
National[23]
South Korea 4th 2nd 2nd 4th 2nd WD 14th 13th
Ranking Comp. 10th 13th 15th
Team events
Olympics 9th T
6th P
Levels: J = Junior
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
T = Team result; P = Personal result.

2007–08 to 2012–13: Pre-junior international debut

International: Novice[23]
Event 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13
Asian Trophy 1st N 1st N
National[23]
South Korean 16th N 8th N 2nd N 12th J 3rd 3rd
Levels: J = Junior; N = Novice

Detailed results

ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE system [37]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 171.00 2023 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge
Short program TSS 59.70 2023 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge
TES 34.23 2023 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge
PCS 28.40 2023 CS Autumn Classic International
Free skating TSS 111.30 2023 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge
TES 56.43 2023 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge
PCS 54.87 2023 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge

Senior level

Current personal best scores are highlighted in bold.

Choi at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

At team events, medals are awarded for team results only.

2023–24 season
Date Event SP FS Total
January 4–7, 2024 2024 South Korean Championships 13
58.20 		12
116.44 		13
174.64
November 1–4, 2023 2023 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge 1
59.70 		2
111.30 		2
171.00
September 14–17, 2023 2023 CS Autumn Classic International 5
58.60 		5
104.66 		5
163.26
2022–23 season
Date Event SP FS Total
January 13–15, 2023 2023 Winter Universiade 6
59.13 		6
112.40 		6
171.53
January 5–8, 2023 2023 South Korean Championships 12
58.40 		14
111.09 		14
169.49
November 9–13, 2022 2022 CS Ice Challenge 19
44.78 		18
87.88 		18
132.66
October 26–29, 2022 2022 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge 3
49.76 		2
95.30 		3
145.06
2019–20 season
Date Event SP FS Total
November 14–17, 2019 2019 CS Warsaw Cup 10
54.89 		14
97.79 		12
152.68
October 9–12, 2019 2019 Denis Ten Memorial 4
54.65 		5
105.93 		4
160.58
September 25–28, 2019 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 8
53.91 		7
103.27 		7
157.18
2018–19 season
Date Event SP FS Total
November 9–11, 2018 2018 NHK Trophy WD WD WD
October 26–28, 2018 2018 Skate Canada International WD WD WD
2017–18 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 19–25, 2018 2018 World Championships 21
55.30 		WD
WD
February 14–23, 2018 2018 Winter Olympics (ladies' singles) 8
67.77 		8
131.49 		7
199.26
February 9–12, 2018 2018 Winter Olympics (team event) 6
65.73 		– 9T
January 22–28, 2018 2018 Four Continents Championships 5
62.30 		4
127.93 		4
190.23
January 5–7, 2018 2018 South Korean Championships 4
64.11 		2
126.01 		2
190.12
November 3–5, 2017 2017 Cup of China 9
53.90 		9
112.09 		9
165.99
October 6–8, 2017 2017 CS Finlandia Trophy 10
52.06 		9
106.47 		9
158.53
September 21–23, 2017 2017 CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy 4
56.62 		3
122.31 		4
178.93
2016–17 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 27–April 2, 2017 2017 World Championships 11
62.66 		7
128.45 		10
191.11
February 23–26, 2017 2017 Asian Winter Games 1
61.30 		1
126.24 		1
187.54
February 15–19, 2017 2017 Four Continents Championships 6
61.62 		4
120.79 		5
182.41
January 6–8, 2017 2017 South Korean Championships 4
60.19 		3
121.29 		4
181.48
November 25–27, 2016 2016 NHK Trophy 11
51.06 		9
114.57 		9
165.63
October 28–30, 2016 2016 Skate Canada 8
53.29 		6
112.49 		7
165.78
September 28–October 2, 2016 2016 CS Ondrej Nepela Memorial 10
48.01 		2
112.61 		4
160.62
September 14–18, 2016 2016 CS U.S. Classic 3
58.70 		5
94.29 		4
152.99
August 4–7, 2016 2016 Asian Open Trophy 2
51.71 		1
108.56 		2
160.27
2015–16 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 28 – April 3, 2016 2016 World Championships 16
56.02 		15
103.90 		14
159.92
February 16–21, 2016 2016 Four Continents Championships 10
56.79 		6
116.92 		8
173.71
January 8–10, 2016 2016 South Korean Championships 2
60.32 		2
116.97 		2
177.29
November 17–22, 2015 2015 CS Tallinn Trophy 13
43.74 		7
102.18 		8
145.92

Junior level

Choi at the 2015 World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
2015–16 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
September 9–13, 2015 2015 JGP Austria Junior 4
57.27 		3
115.11 		3
172.38
August 26–30, 2015 2015 JGP Latvia Junior 4
57.21 		3
111.08 		3
168.29
2014–15 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
April 15–19, 2015 2015 Triglav Trophy Junior 1
56.61 		1
109.39 		1
166.00
March 2–8, 2015 2015 World Junior Championships Junior 9
54.32 		9
102.06 		9
156.38
January 5–9, 2015 2015 South Korean Championships Senior 2
54.04 		2
106.76 		2
160.80
September 17–21, 2014 2014 JGP Japan Junior 7
52.66 		3
105.94 		4
158.60
August 20–24, 2014 2014 JGP France Junior 7
46.04 		5
91.47 		5
137.51
August 6–10, 2014 2014 Asian Open Trophy Junior 3
55.55 		2
101.40 		2
156.95
2013–14 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
March 10–16, 2014 2014 World Junior Championships Junior 9
53.69 		6
108.66 		6
162.35
January 1–5, 2014 2014 South Korean Championships Senior 10
50.38 		3
108.26 		4
158.64
September 25–29, 2013 2013 JGP Belarus Junior 11
45.18 		2
98.51 		4
143.69
September 4–8, 2013 2013 JGP Mexico Junior 7
47.48 		5
94.75 		5
142.23
August 8–11, 2013 2013 Asian Open Trophy Junior 3
48.68 		3
92.40 		3
141.08
2012–13 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
January 2–6, 2013 2013 South Korean Championships Senior 2
53.21 		3
99.88 		3
153.09
August 7–12, 2012 2012 Asian Open Trophy Novice 2
42.52 		1
70.29 		1
112.81
2011–12 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
January 12–16, 2012 2012 South Korean Championships Senior 4
44.20 		2
97.26 		3
141.46
August 22–26, 2011 2011 Asian Open Trophy Novice 1
39.50 		3
48.70 		1
88.20

References

  1. ^ "Seasons Best Score 2017/2018". International Skating Union.
  2. ^ "Seasons Best Score 2016/2017". International Skating Union.
  3. ^ "Seasons Best Score 2015/2016". International Skating Union.
  4. ^ "Seasons Best Score 2014/2015". International Skating Union.
  5. ^ "Seasons Best Score 2013/2014". International Skating Union.
  6. ^ a b "Da Bin CHOI: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Park, So-young; Kang, Yoo-rim (February 27, 2017). "With a bit of luck and lot of hard work, Choi Da-bin rises to the top". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017.
  8. ^ [부고] 최다빈(피겨스케이팅 선수) 모친상 [[Mourning notice] Figure Skater Choi Da-bin's Mother Passed Away]. Sports Naver (in Korean). June 27, 2017.
  9. ^ "University Interview". Naver. Naver. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  10. ^ a b c Kang, Hyun-kyung (February 27, 2017). "Underdog skater achieves stunning victory". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Yoon, Hyung-jun (February 27, 2017). "Figure Skating Has a New Star in Choi Da-bin". The Chosun Ilbo.
  12. ^ Baek, Byung-yeul (November 30, 2017). "Korean figure skater Choi Da-bin vows to rebound after injury". Korea Times.
  13. ^ Slater, Paula (January 26, 2018). "Sakamoto leads ladies to Japanese sweep at Four Continents". Golden Skate.
  14. ^ Slater, Paula (February 23, 2018). "Zagitova edges out Medvedeva for Olympic gold". Golden Skate.
  15. ^ Lies, Elaine (February 11, 2018). "Figure skating: My mother is watching me from Heaven, says South Korea's Choi". Reuters.
  16. ^ Communication No. 28 from ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2018
  17. ^ a b 피겨 최다빈, 새 시즌 프로그램 공개…첫 탱고 음악 사용 (in Korean). Yonhap. August 1, 2018.
  18. ^ 심, 혜진. "임은수·김예림·최다빈 등, '올댓스케이트 2019' 갈라곡 공개". Star News. Star News. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
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  21. ^ 김, 수진. "최다빈"팬들 사랑에 늘 춥지 않았다"은퇴 소감 [노는언니2]". Star News. Star News. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  22. ^ "'하루 만에 은퇴 번복' 최다빈 "유니버시아드 대회 출전 열망 컸다"". 뉴스1. 뉴스1. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
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  24. ^ "Ranking Competition - Senior Women Results". Twitter. Twitter. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Dabin Choi Vlog". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  26. ^ a b "All That Skate 2018". All That Sports. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  27. ^ a b [김연아 아이스쇼] 최다빈 - 물랑루즈 OST (Television production) (in Korean). Seoul Broadcasting System. May 22, 2018. Event occurs at 30 sec.
  28. ^ a b c [김연아 아이스쇼] 최다빈 - 대부 OST (Television production) (in Korean). Seoul Broadcasting System. May 22, 2018.
  29. ^ 이, 석무 (July 20, 2017). "최다빈, 새 프로그램 공개...'쇼트는 애절, 프리는 다양함'". Sports Naver (in Korean).
  30. ^ "피겨 최다빈, 새 프리프로그램으로 시즌 첫 국제대회 출격". KBS (in Korean). September 4, 2017.
  31. ^ AbsoluteSkating [@absoluteskating] (February 24, 2018). "#PyeongChang2018 #FigureSkating Olympic gala timing and music selections" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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  33. ^ Никита Михайлов/Nikita Mikhaylov*Official group (March 9, 2017). "Среди участниц Мария Сотскова и корейская фигуристка Dabin Choi (Дабин Чой), которым Никита Михайлов поставил короткие программы" [Among the participants Maria Sotskova and Korean skater Dabin Choi, for whom Nikita Mikhaylov made the short program] (VK) (in Russian).
  34. ^ "Da Bin CHOI: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  35. ^ "Da Bin CHOI: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  36. ^ "Da Bin CHOI: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  37. ^ Cite error: The named reference SS-DC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Choi Da-bin.
Asian Winter Games – Women's singles
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