Viktor Ahn, the short track speed skating star who became a naturalized Russian citizen, is set to appear on a Korean entertainment program for the first time in seven years.
TV Chosun said Tuesday that Viktor Ahn will join the coaching staff of its new sports reality show "Speed Queen."
The program follows elite short track athletes competing fiercely for a spot in the national team selection trials, chasing their dream of representing South Korea once more.
Viktor Ahn will appear as a "hidden coach." His last appearance on a Korean entertainment program was on MBC's "Real Men 300," which ended its run in January 2019. The coaching lineup also includes director Jeon Yi-kyung, coach Kim A-rang and actor Lee Yu-ri.
The seven athletes featured on the show are Shin Sae-bom, Kim Bo-reum, Kim Ri-a, Yoon Jeong-min, Park Yoon-jeong, Kim Chan-seo and Kim Do-yeon.
In a preview clip released recently, Viktor Ahn said he was determined to push the athletes beyond what they thought they were capable of. "We're going to go all out so they can grow even more than they themselves want to," he said.
Viktor Ahn won three gold medals at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics and another three at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, bringing his Olympic gold medal total to six. He renounced his South Korean citizenship in 2011 and became a naturalized Russian citizen.
choigo@heraldcorp.com
