Lee Seung-hoon, Tied for Most Medals by a Korean, "In 2026..." [Olympics]

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Lee Seung-hoon (IHQ), who became South Korea's most decorated Winter Olympic athlete, expressed that it was "a very honorable achievement." On the 19th, at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, Lee finished third (7 minutes 47.20 seconds) in the men's mass start final of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics speed skating event. He earned 20 sprint points and took the bronze medal. Lee was the inaugural champion who won the gold medal in the mass start event when it was first introduced at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Jung Jaewon (Uijeongbu City Hall), who assisted him at that time, won the silver medal this time with 40 sprint points (7 minutes 47.18 seconds). The gold medal went to Bart Swings (Belgium, 63 points), who crossed the finish line at 7 minutes 47.11 seconds.

This bronze medal is Lee Seung-hoon's sixth Olympic medal in total. Previously, he won gold medals in the 10,000m at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and in the mass start at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. He also earned silver medals in the 5,000m at the Vancouver Winter Olympics and in the team pursuit at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. With this additional medal, he surpassed Jeon Yi-kyung (4 golds, 1 bronze), Park Seung-hee (2 golds, 3 bronzes), and Choi Min-jeong (3 golds, 2 silvers) to become South Korea's most decorated Winter Olympic athlete. Including the Summer Olympics, he shares the top spot for most medals with shooting athlete Jin Jong-oh (4 golds, 2 silvers) and archer Kim Soo-nyung (4 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Lee Seung-hoon said, "I used too much energy in the semifinals and had little recovery time, so I feel a bit regretful," but added, "I'm happy and satisfied to win a bronze medal for the first time." Before the event, he was not considered a medal contender. At 34 years old, he is not young, and the COVID-19 pandemic made training difficult. Lee laughed off the situation, saying, "Maybe because I competed without pressure, my excitement was somewhat diminished." Regarding the possibility of competing in the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics, he said, "By then, the younger athletes will have grown more," but added, "I take it one year at a time. If my skills allow, I might participate."

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