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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
LW12
Further personal information
Family
Wife Kim Hee-Sun, daughter Eun-Kyum, two sons Byung-Cheol and Sang-Cheol
Residence
Sejong, KOR
Occupation
Athlete
Languages
Korean
Higher education
Civil Engineering - Korea College of Media Arts: Korea
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up the sport in August 2015 with Changsung Engineering and Construction in Hoenggye, Republic of Korea.
Why this sport?
He previously participated in Para ice hockey and Para cycling. "When I was playing hockey and cycling constantly, one of my friends suggested I join the Para Nordic ski club. Since I am not that young and it was a very special chance to participate in the Paralympics held in my own country [2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang], I decided to take up Nordic skiing."
Club / Team
Changsung Engineering and Construction : Korea
Name of coach
Yoo Ki-Won [club, national], KOR
International debut
Year
2015
Competing for
Korea
General interest
Hobbies
Billiards. (Athlete, 11 Mar 2018)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold in the 7.5km cross-country skiing sitting event at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (paralympic.org, 25 Dec 2018)
Most influential person in career
Korean wheelchair basketball player Yoon Jung Moon, and his wife. (Athlete, 11 Mar 2018; etnews.com, 17 Mar 2018)
Hero / Idol
His mother. (Athlete, 11 Mar 2018)
Awards and honours
He was named Most Valuable Player [MVP] at the 2016 and 2020 National Winter Para Games in Republic of Korea. (stnsports.co.kr, 19 Feb 2016; hani.co.kr, 14 Feb 2020)
In 2018 he was presented with a Merit Award by the governor of South Chungcheong Province in Republic of Korea. (weeklytrade.co.kr, 19 Dec 2018)
In 2018 he was given the Best Men's Paralympian Award at the Sogang Athletics Grand Awards in Republic of Korea. (kwnews.co.kr, 01 May 2018)
In 2018 he received an Excellence Para Athlete Award at the 23rd Coca-Cola Athletics Awards in Republic of Korea. (coca-colajourney.co.kr, 27 Mar 2018)
He was the flag bearer for the Republic of Korea at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (pyeongchang2018.com, 09 Mar 2018)
In 2018 he was presented with a Merit Award by the governor of South Chungcheong Province in Republic of Korea. (weeklytrade.co.kr, 19 Dec 2018)
In 2018 he was given the Best Men's Paralympian Award at the Sogang Athletics Grand Awards in Republic of Korea. (kwnews.co.kr, 01 May 2018)
In 2018 he received an Excellence Para Athlete Award at the 23rd Coca-Cola Athletics Awards in Republic of Korea. (coca-colajourney.co.kr, 27 Mar 2018)
He was the flag bearer for the Republic of Korea at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (pyeongchang2018.com, 09 Mar 2018)
Other sports
He competed in both cross-country skiing and biathlon at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. He has also played Para ice hockey at international level, and has participated in wheelchair basketball and Para cycling at national level in the Republic of Korea. (SportsDeskOnline, 25 Nov 2020; cnhappynews.kr, 10 Nov 2015; 2014npg.kosad.or.kr, 05 Nov 2014; pointstreak.com, 25 Oct 2013; ccdailynews.com, 27 Oct 2020; welfarenews.net, 12 Feb 2020)
Milestones
In 2017 he became the first person representing the Republic of Korea to win a medal in Para biathlon at the world championships when he took bronze in the 12.5km middle sitting event in Finsterau, Germany. A few days later he became the first Korean athlete to win a medal in Para cross-country skiing at the world championships when he claimed silver in the 15km sitting event. (fasterskier.com, 25 May 2017; SportsDeskOnline, 26 Dec 2018)
He also became the first Korean athlete to win a gold medal in any sport at the Paralympic Winter Games by claiming victory in the 7.5km cross-country skiing sitting event at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang. (SportsDeskOnline, 26 Dec 2018)
He also became the first Korean athlete to win a gold medal in any sport at the Paralympic Winter Games by claiming victory in the 7.5km cross-country skiing sitting event at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang. (SportsDeskOnline, 26 Dec 2018)
Ambitions
To win a gold medal at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. (sedaily.com, 27 Oct 2018; news.joins.com, 16 Dec 2018; welfarenews.net, 12 Feb 2020)
Impairment
In February 2006, the day before his college graduation, he lost both of his legs in a car accident. (Athlete, 11 Mar 2018)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Middle Distance Sitting | Final | 2017-02-11 | 3 | |
| Men's Sprint - Free Style Sitting | Final | 2017-02-12 | 5 | |
| Men's Long Distance - Classic Sitting | Final | 2017-02-16 | 2 | |
| Men's Sprint Sitting | Final | 2017-02-18 | 6 | |
| Men's Middle Distance - Free Style Sitting | Final | 2017-02-19 | 4 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 7.5km Sitting | Final | 2018-03-10 | 5 | |
| Men's 15km Sitting | Final | 2018-03-11 | 3 | |
| Men's 12.5km Sitting | Final | 2018-03-13 | 5 | |
| Men's 1.1km Sprint Sitting | Final | 2018-03-14 | 6 | |
| Men's 15km Sitting | Final | 2018-03-16 | 5 | |
| Men's 7.5km Sitting | Final | 2018-03-17 | 1 | |
| 4x2.5km Open Relay | Final | 2018-03-18 | 8 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Middle Distance Sitting | Final | 2019-02-16 | 3 | |
| Men's Middle Distance - Free Style Sitting | Final | 2019-02-17 | 6 | |
| Men's Sprint Sitting | Final | 2019-02-20 | 5 | |
| Men's Long Distance Sitting | Final | 2019-02-21 | 5 | |
| Men's Long Distance - Classic Sitting | Final | 2019-02-24 | 7 |