Viktor Ahn’s Choice After 7 Years: The ‘Speed Queen’ Secret Coach Returns to the Ice

A star widely regarded as one of the greatest in short track history, Viktor Ahn (41, formerly Ahn Hyun-soo) is set to appear before Korean audiences on a domestic variety show for the first time in about seven years.

TV CHOSUN announced the coaching lineup for its new sports reality variety show “Speed Queen” on the 10th, revealing that Viktor Ahn will join the cast. It will be his first regular appearance on a Korean variety show in about seven years, since MBC’s “Real Men 300” ended in January 2019.

‘Hidden coach’ to lead bid for a return to the national team… Accepts head coach Jeon Yi-kyung’s invitation

Set to premiere on the 25th, “Speed Queen” follows Olympic medalists and former national team skaters as they take on the grueling challenge of competing in the national short track team trials and pursuing growth on the ice.

Viktor Ahn accepted a personal invitation from Jeon Yi-kyung, head coach and a living legend of South Korean women’s short track, to serve as the show’s “hidden coach.” Drawing on his unmatched skating technique and race-management expertise, honed during his competitive career, he plans to intensively train athletes aiming to return to competition and make it through the team trials. Olympic medalist Kim A-lang will also join the coaching staff, while actor Lee Yu-ri will support the team in a range of ways as its manager.

Meanwhile, Viktor Ahn rose to the top of the world stage by winning three gold medals for South Korea at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics. After becoming a Russian citizen in 2011, he won three more gold medals at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, setting an unprecedented record on the Olympic stage.