Lee Haein: ‘I try to focus on this moment – the present’
As if to make up for lost time, Lee has packed her Olympic campaign which she will kick off with the Kinoshita Group Cup.
She is pencilled in for two more Challenger Series events – next month’s Denis Ten Memorial Challenge in Kazakhstan and the Trialeti Trophy in Georgia – before hitting the Grand Prix circuit with the Cup of China and Skate America.
Depending on those results, the Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan, awaits in December followed by the two-legged nationals that will decide her fate for the Games.
Yet Lee is not consumed by results like she used to be. She is taking it one skate at a time, concentrating on the now.
“I was not able to compete so after that I was so nervous. My mental health was better but I was still really nervous. I think I need to compete more competitions so I can I get used to my nerves so I choose to compete in three Challenger Series.
“In the past, I always thought about the results. Like before competition, I don’t think I could focus on the competition; I was just focusing on my results. I was worrying so much instead of focusing on competition.
“But now, instead of focusing on my results I try to focus on this moment – the present. That means I can focus more on the competition so that can be helpful.
“I was struggling with my mental health but now I think it’s better. I read a lot of books for my mental health and I’m more thoughtful. I think now, myself is more better than before.”
Even if the season doesn’t turn out as she hopes, Lee says she will be OK. Of course she is dying to be in Italy in February. But life will go on. And so will her career.
“I am just really happy. I have a chance to go to the Olympics. It’s not like I’m going to Olympics now, but I still have a chance so I think that is the most grateful thing right now.
“And after Olympics, I will not end my figure skating career so I will continue to skate. I will try to do my best to compete at the Olympics but if not, it’s okay. I will try to do better in the future.
“But I’ve gone through a lot of hard times so as I said before, I will try to do my best to go to the Olympics but if not, then I will try to do better in the future.”