Chun Lee-kyung
Encyclopedia
Chun Lee-Kyung (Hangul
: 전이경, Hanja
: 全利卿) (born January 6, 1976 in Okcheon, Chungcheongbuk-do
) is a retired South Korea
n short track speed skater
. She is a four-time Olympic Champion and three-time Overall World Champion
for 1995-1997. She was a dominant force in International Short Track Speed Skating during mid-1990s.
Chun took part in the 1992 Winter Olympics
in Albertville
, France
, at the age of 15, but failed to win much attention. In 1994, however, Chun won two gold medal
s at the Lillehammer Winter Olympic Games
. She won the women's 1000 m final, defeating the reigning World Champion Nathalie Lambert
and former World Champion Kim So-Hee, and was part of the team that won the 3000 m relay in a world record
time along with Kim.
Between 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics, Chun won the Overall World Championship
three times in a row, in 1995, 1996 and 1997 (becoming the second person to have won three consecutive Overall World Championships). She also won the Overall World Cup title for 1997-1998 season.
In 1998, at the Nagano Winter Olympics
, Chun successfully defended both of her Olympic titles, by defeating China
's Yang Yang (A) and Yang Yang (S) in the 1000 m final after trailing for most of the race. She led the relay team to another Olympic victory with world record time, completing the first "double-double" in Olympic short track history. She became the first quadruple Olympic Champion in Short Track Speed Skating and the first one from Korea. Chun retired shortly after the 1998 Olympics.
In 2002, Chun was elected to the Athletes' Committee of the International Olympic Committee
.
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...
: 전이경, 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...
: 全利卿) (born January 6, 1976 in Okcheon, Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do
Chungcheongbuk-do is a province in the centre of South Korea. It was formed in 1896 from the northeastern half of the former Chungcheong province...
) 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...
. She is a four-time Olympic Champion and three-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...
for 1995-1997. She was a dominant force in International Short Track Speed Skating during mid-1990s.
Chun took part in the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
in Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, at the age of 15, but failed to win much attention. In 1994, however, Chun won two gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s at the Lillehammer Winter Olympic Games
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
. She won the women's 1000 m final, defeating the reigning World Champion Nathalie Lambert
Nathalie Lambert
Nathalie Lambert is a Canadian Olympic Medalist in Short-track speed skating. She won one Gold medal and two Silver medals at the Olympics. She is also a three-time Overall World Champion for 1991, 1993 and 1994.Lambert won the 11 international competitions in which she participated, between 1992...
and former World Champion Kim So-Hee, and was part of the team that won the 3000 m relay in a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
time along with Kim.
Between 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics, Chun won the Overall World Championship
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
three times in a row, in 1995, 1996 and 1997 (becoming the second person to have won three consecutive Overall World Championships). She also won the Overall World Cup title for 1997-1998 season.
In 1998, at the Nagano 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...
, Chun successfully defended both of her Olympic titles, by defeating China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
's Yang Yang (A) and Yang Yang (S) in the 1000 m final after trailing for most of the race. She led the relay team to another Olympic victory with world record time, completing the first "double-double" in Olympic short track history. She became the first quadruple Olympic Champion in Short Track Speed Skating and the first one from Korea. Chun retired shortly after the 1998 Olympics.
In 2002, Chun was elected to the Athletes' Committee of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
.