Ex-Korean ice dancer Hannah Lim switches allegiance to Canada

Ice dancer Hannah Lim, who represented Korea at this year's Winter Olympics, has switched allegiance to her native Canada.

Lim and her new partner, Zachary Lagha, were introduced at Skate Canada's media day in Montreal on Thursday (local time).

Lim parted ways with her former partner, Quan Ye, in April, two months after they finished 22nd at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

Born in Toronto to Korean parents, Lim holds dual citizenship and began skating for Korea at the junior level in 2021.

Lim and Quan won the world junior silver medal in 2023 and also helped Korea to silver at the World Team Trophy that same season.

Under the Olympic Charter, athletes who change their sporting allegiance and represent a new country at the Olympics must go through a three-year waiting period.

Lim will be eligible to compete with Lagha for Canada at the 2030 Winter Games.

At the media day, Lim, 21, said switching her allegiance was "a difficult decision," and thanked the Korea Skating Union and her Korean fans for their support over the years.

"In the end, skating with Zach and representing Canada felt like ...