North Korea Skier Delivers Message of Hope After Slalom

(ATR) Sliding her skis turn-by-turn, North Korean skierRyon-Hyang Kim delicately eased her way down the 200-meterRainbow One slalom course, finishing 54th and last.

Kim’s two-run time was 2:37.98, nearly a minute behind Olympic slalom gold medalistFridaHansdotter of Sweden. But for Kim, just making it down the steep course without missing a gate or falling was a huge success.

"I am very satisfied with the result of the race today, but Iwill try my best in the future as well," Kim said in the finish area after the race.

"Thanks to the supporters from both Koreas, I was able to finish the race on good terms.I also feel very happy that my president is watching over me."

After her race, along withHansdotter and AmericanMikaelaShiffrin, Kim was required to take an doping test. A small group of North Korean officials stood outside the trailer during the control - but refused to talk toAround the Rings about Kim’s race.

Kim answered just two questions from reporters following her second run, before darting away through the mixed zone. She had been slightly more talkative to a South Korean journalist following her first run.

The five-foot two-inch competitor spoke boldly about her hope that North and South Korea will compete together in future competitions.

"I feel that if the two Koreas unite as one, we could beat other countries in many sports," she said.

"I feel very comfortable that I am now back in my home country," Kim added. "I believe North and South are both my home country."

Kim admitted that she has not made any new friends at the Games: "I certainly hope that I could in the future."

Unlike at Thursday’s giant slalom in which Kim also competed, the bright red-clad North Korean cheerleaders were not present in the grandstand. Instead, a small delegation of athletes and officials cheered Kim down the mountain.

The slalom was Kim’s second and final event at thePyeongChang Olympics. She will not race in the considerably faster and more dangerous super-G or downhill.

"It definitely was a new experience for me because this is a big event," Kim said about being one of 22 athletesfrom her country who received IOC invitations to represent the reclusive nation.

Kim said shewill return to training upon arriving home in North Korea. She offered a message to her fellow North Korean athletes still to compete inPyeongChang over the final nine days of the Games. "I want them to always remember the slogan 'We are one' and that we are all one in heart."

Reported by Brian Pinelli in PyeongChang

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