Park Hye-Won
Encyclopedia
Park Hye-Won (Hangul
: 박혜원, Hanja
: 朴慧園) (born August 15, 1983 in Seoul
) is a retired South Korea
n short track speed skater
.
In 1998, Park claimed her spot in Team Korea, ranked 1st in the national trials, and then she competed in the 1998-99 Short Track Speed Skating World Cup
series. At the first event held in the Netherlands
, Park finished 1st in the 1500 metre race, beating Yang Yang (A)
. However, at the second event in Hungary
, she tore her hamstring, bumping with a British opponent during a race, and was sidelined for a whole year.
In 2000, Park won two silver medals (3000 metre relay and 1500 metres) at the 2000 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
held in Sheffield
, England
, and added another silver at the World Team Championships
held in The Hague
, The Netherlands. She set the 3000 metre unofficial world record and current Korean national record of an astonishing 4:42.15, a time considered far out of reach of even the best present athletes, on April 8, 2000 in the Korean national championships.
In 2001, Park captured another 3000 metre gold medal on December 17 in the fifth event of the 2001-02 World Cup held in Amsterdam
, finishing the race ahead of Yang Yang (A) with a margin of 16 seconds.
, combining with Choi Eun-Kyung
, Choi Min-Kyung
and Joo Min-Jin
. Team Korea eventually won its third consecutive Olympic women's 3000 metre relay gold medal, setting the new world record in the final race.
In April 2002, at the 2002 World Championships
, Park led the Korean relay team to its first world championship in the history of the team.
after the Olympics, Park focused mainly on her studies. After winning gold in the 3000 metre relay at the 2003 Winter Universiade
, Park retired from skating.
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...
: 박혜원, 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...
: 朴慧園) (born August 15, 1983 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...
) is a retired 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...
.
Early career
Park started skating at the age of 10. In 1997, at 14, she was first called up to the South Korean national short track speed skating team for the 1998 Asian Short Track Speed Skating Championships where she won gold medals in the 3000 metres and 3000 metre relay.In 1998, Park claimed her spot in Team Korea, ranked 1st in the national trials, and then she competed in the 1998-99 Short Track Speed Skating World Cup
Short Track Speed Skating World Cup
The Short Track Speed Skating World Cup is a series of international short track speed skating competitions, organised yearly by the International Skating Union since the winter of 1997/1998. Every year during the winter, a number of competitions on a number of different distances are held...
series. At the first event held in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Park finished 1st in the 1500 metre race, beating Yang Yang (A)
Yang Yang (A)
Yang Yang is a former Chinese short track speed skater and current IOC member. She is a two-time Olympic Champion from 2002 Winter Olympics and a five-time Overall World Champion for 1998-2002. She was formerly a member of the Chinese national short track team...
. However, at the second event in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, she tore her hamstring, bumping with a British opponent during a race, and was sidelined for a whole year.
1999-2001
In 1999, Park came back from the hamstring injury and participated in the Asian Short Track Speed Skating Championships. She won four gold medals (1000 metres, 1500 metres, 3000 metres, and 3000 metre relay), sweeping all the women's events except for the 500 metres. During the 1999-2000 World Cup, Park won two gold medals in the 3000 metres and one silver in the 1500 metres.In 2000, Park won two silver medals (3000 metre relay and 1500 metres) at the 2000 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
2000 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
The 2000 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships took place between March 10 and March 12, 2000 in Sheffield, England. The World Championships are organised by the ISU which also run world cups and championships in speed skating and figure skating.-Men:...
held in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and added another silver at the World Team Championships
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...
held in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, The Netherlands. She set the 3000 metre unofficial world record and current Korean national record of an astonishing 4:42.15, a time considered far out of reach of even the best present athletes, on April 8, 2000 in the Korean national championships.
In 2001, Park captured another 3000 metre gold medal on December 17 in the fifth event of the 2001-02 World Cup held in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, finishing the race ahead of Yang Yang (A) with a margin of 16 seconds.
2002 Winter Olympics
Park first participated at the Winter Olympics in February 2002. Since the 3000 metre individual race had not been a part of Olympic events, the 3000 metre specialist competed only in the 3000 metre relay at the 2002 Winter Olympics2002 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...
, combining with Choi Eun-Kyung
Choi Eun-Kyung
Choi Eun-Kyung is a South Korean short track speed skater. She is a double Olympic Champion in relays and a two-time Overall World Champion for 2003 and 2004....
, Choi Min-Kyung
Choi Min-Kyung
Choi Min-Kyung is a South Korean short track speed skater.She who won a gold medal in the 3000 m relay at the 2002 Winter Olympics, together with teammates Choi Eun-Kyung, Park Hye-Won and Joo Min-Jin.She competed for France at the 2006 Winter Olympics.-External links:*...
and Joo Min-Jin
Joo Min-Jin
Joo Min-Jin is a retired South Korean short track speed skater.She who won a gold medal in the 3000 m relay at the 2002 Winter Olympics, together with teammates Choi Eun-Kyung, Park Hye-Won and Choi Min-Kyung.-External links:*...
. Team Korea eventually won its third consecutive Olympic women's 3000 metre relay gold medal, setting the new world record in the final race.
In April 2002, at the 2002 World 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:...
, Park led the Korean relay team to its first world championship in the history of the team.
Retirement
Upon entering college at Sungshin Women's UniversitySungshin Women's University
Sungshin Women's University, located in Seoul, South Korea is a private, women's university founded by Dr. Lee Sook Chong.Sungshin Women's University consists of nine colleges, one open major division, and five graduate schools. About 10,000 students are enrolled...
after the Olympics, Park focused mainly on her studies. After winning gold in the 3000 metre relay at the 2003 Winter Universiade
2003 Winter Universiade
The 2003 Winter Universiade, the XXI Winter Universiade, took place in Tarvisio, Italy.-Medals table:...
, Park retired from skating.