Kim Dong-Sung
Encyclopedia
Kim Dong-Sung (Hangul
: 김동성, Hanja
: 金東聖) (born 9 February 1980 in Seoul
, South Korea
) is a former South Korea
n short track speed skater
. He won a gold medal in 1000m race and silver medal in 5000m relay at the 1998 Winter Olympics
. He has been a two-time Overall World Champion
in 1997 and in 2002 and two-time Overall World Cup Champion (1999-2000, 2001-2002).
After winning his first World Championship in 1997 when he was 17, Kim entered 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano as a favourite. While he met disappointment in 500m race, he won the gold medal in 1000m. Ater trailing Li Jiajun
at the final corner of the last lap, Kim stuck out his foot to get his blade to cross the line first, catching Li off-guard by 0.053 seconds. He helped the Korean team to win the silver medal in 5000m relay.
Kim was injured in 2000 during a race and took much of 2000-2001 season off, but he made a good recovery in 2001 in lead up to 2002 Winter Olympics
. However, despite being a favourite to win multiple medals (ranked first the World for every Olympic disciplines), Kim ended up being shut out of medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics
. Controversy surrounded his disqualification at the 1500m race, where it was originally thought that he won the 1500m gold medal after crossing the line first in the final but was disqualified for blocking Apolo Anton Ohno
.
A month later, Kim won all possible six gold medals in the men's category at the 2002 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
(Overall, 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m relay), a feat achieved by no other man in the history of the competition. Canada's Sylvie Daigle
achieved the same feat in the ladies category in 1983, but no World Championship title was awarded for relays that year. In particular, he astounded spectators and competitors alike when he sprinted ahead during the 1500m race and retained his speed throughout, eventually winning the gold by finishing one and a half lap before his competitors. He also showed a remarkable comeback in the 5000m relay, after Ahn Hyun-Soo fell over with four laps to go, by regaining a 20m gap between the Canadian team and the Korean team to seize the gold medal by 0.005 seconds. Kim retired soon afterwards.
Kim Dong Sung now lives in Korea.
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 김동성, Hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 金東聖) (born 9 February 1980 in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
) is a former South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n short track speed skater
Short track speed skating
Short track speed skating is a form of competitive ice speed skating. In competitions, multiple skaters skate on an oval ice track with a circumference of 111.12 m...
. He won a gold medal in 1000m race and silver medal in 5000m relay at the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
. He has been a two-time Overall World Champion
World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
The World Short Track Speed Skating Championships are a senior international short track speed skating competition held once a year to determine the World Champion in individual distances, relays and Overall Classification...
in 1997 and in 2002 and two-time Overall World Cup Champion (1999-2000, 2001-2002).
After winning his first World Championship in 1997 when he was 17, Kim entered 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano as a favourite. While he met disappointment in 500m race, he won the gold medal in 1000m. Ater trailing Li Jiajun
Li JiaJun
Li Jiajun is a Chinese short track speed skater who has won 5 Olympic medals - two silver and three bronze. He has been a two-time Overall World Champion for 1999 and 2001....
at the final corner of the last lap, Kim stuck out his foot to get his blade to cross the line first, catching Li off-guard by 0.053 seconds. He helped the Korean team to win the silver medal in 5000m relay.
Kim was injured in 2000 during a race and took much of 2000-2001 season off, but he made a good recovery in 2001 in lead up to 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
. However, despite being a favourite to win multiple medals (ranked first the World for every Olympic disciplines), Kim ended up being shut out of medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
. Controversy surrounded his disqualification at the 1500m race, where it was originally thought that he won the 1500m gold medal after crossing the line first in the final but was disqualified for blocking Apolo Anton Ohno
Apolo Anton Ohno
Apolo Anton Ohno is an American short track speed skating competitor and an eight-time medalist in the Winter Olympics. He is the most decorated American Winter Olympic athlete of all time....
.
A month later, Kim won all possible six gold medals in the men's category at the 2002 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
2002 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
The 2002 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships took place between April 5 and April 7, 2002 in Montréal, Canada. The World Championships are organised by the ISU which also run world cups and championships in speed skating and figure skating.-Men:...
(Overall, 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m relay), a feat achieved by no other man in the history of the competition. Canada's Sylvie Daigle
Sylvie Daigle
Sylvie Daigle is a Canadian speed skater. She is a member of Canadian Short Track relay team that won gold medal in 1992 Winter Olympics and silver medal in 1994 Winter Olympics. She is also a five-time Overall World Champion...
achieved the same feat in the ladies category in 1983, but no World Championship title was awarded for relays that year. In particular, he astounded spectators and competitors alike when he sprinted ahead during the 1500m race and retained his speed throughout, eventually winning the gold by finishing one and a half lap before his competitors. He also showed a remarkable comeback in the 5000m relay, after Ahn Hyun-Soo fell over with four laps to go, by regaining a 20m gap between the Canadian team and the Korean team to seize the gold medal by 0.005 seconds. Kim retired soon afterwards.
Kim Dong Sung now lives in Korea.