Lee Bong-Ju
Encyclopedia
Lee Bong-Ju is a South Korea
n marathoner.
He won the silver medal in the marathon
at the 1996 Summer Olympics
held in Atlanta, United States
. Lee’s second place in the Atlanta Olympics, just 3 seconds behind Josia Thugwane
from South Africa
, was the closest finish ever in an Olympic marathon.
later that year.
After earning a silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics marathon, he ended the year with a first-place win in the prestigious Fukuoka Marathon
– a combination good enough to earn the World Number One ranking ahead of the Olympic champion.
In 1998, Lee reduced the Korean national record to 2:07:44 while finishing second at the Rotterdam Marathon
. Later that year, he also won the gold medal in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games
marathon race.
In 2000, Lee further reduced both the national record and is own personal record to 2:07:20 when coming in second at the Tokyo Marathon
, and he consolidated his international stature with a second place finish at the Fukuoka Marathon
.
In 2001, Lee again took world notice when he won the preeminent Boston Marathon
.
In 2002, he won the 2002 Busan Asian Games
marathon, thereby defending his championship title for that important race.
He is regarded as a national hero in South Korea, and his wedding was held in the Seoul Olympic Stadium
in 2002.
's gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, and Hwang Young-Cho
's retirement Lee became the leading South Korean marathoner, and Lee is the leading South Korean marathoner still now in 2007.
Lee is South Korea's record holder at both the half marathon and marathon distance.
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 marathoner.
He won the silver medal in the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
held in Atlanta, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Lee’s second place in the Atlanta Olympics, just 3 seconds behind Josia Thugwane
Josia Thugwane
Josia Thugwane is a South African athlete, best known for winning the gold medal in the marathon race at the 1996 Summer Olympics...
from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, was the closest finish ever in an Olympic marathon.
Career
Lee established himself as a major international marathoner in 1993, capturing the Korean Championships in 2:10:27 then going on to win the Honolulu MarathonHonolulu Marathon
The Honolulu Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons. It takes place annually in Honolulu, Hawaii on the second Sunday in December. - History :...
later that year.
After earning a silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics marathon, he ended the year with a first-place win in the prestigious Fukuoka Marathon
Fukuoka Marathon
The , held in Fukuoka, Japan, is an international men's marathon race established in 1947. It is usually held on the first Sunday in December.The course record is held by Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, running 2:05:18 in 2009 to best his own record from the previous year.-Men's winners:Winners of the...
– a combination good enough to earn the World Number One ranking ahead of the Olympic champion.
In 1998, Lee reduced the Korean national record to 2:07:44 while finishing second at the Rotterdam Marathon
Rotterdam Marathon
The Rotterdam Marathon is an annual marathon that has been held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands since 1981. It has been held in April of every year since the third edition in 1984, and attracts many top athletes. It has also been ranked as one of the top 10 marathons in the world by Runner's World...
. Later that year, he also won the gold medal in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games
1998 Asian Games
The 13th Asian Games were held from December 6 to December 20, 1998 in Bangkok, Thailand. This was the first time that Thailand bid for the event after it shouldered the two postponed hosting rights in 1970 and 1978.-Emblem:...
marathon race.
In 2000, Lee further reduced both the national record and is own personal record to 2:07:20 when coming in second at the Tokyo Marathon
Tokyo Marathon
The Tokyo International Marathon was a marathon for male elite runners held in Tokyo, Japan, from 1980 until 2006.It actually consisted of two marathons - the Tokyo International Marathon which took place on even years, and Tokyo-New York Friendship International Marathon which took place on odd...
, and he consolidated his international stature with a second place finish at the Fukuoka Marathon
Fukuoka Marathon
The , held in Fukuoka, Japan, is an international men's marathon race established in 1947. It is usually held on the first Sunday in December.The course record is held by Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia, running 2:05:18 in 2009 to best his own record from the previous year.-Men's winners:Winners of the...
.
In 2001, Lee again took world notice when he won the preeminent Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
.
In 2002, he won the 2002 Busan Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
marathon, thereby defending his championship title for that important race.
He is regarded as a national hero in South Korea, and his wedding was held in the Seoul Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Seoul)
The Seoul Olympic Stadium, aka Jamsil Olympic Stadium is located in Seoul, South Korea. It was the main stadium was built for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 10th Asian Games in 1986...
in 2002.
Achievements
Lee's silver medal in the Atlanta Olympics was the first Olympic marathon medal of South Korean athletes after his contemporary marathoner Hwang Young-ChoHwang Young-Cho
Hwang Young-cho is a former South Korean athlete, winner of the marathon race at the 1992 Summer Olympics and 1994 Asian Games.-Career:...
's gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, and Hwang Young-Cho
Hwang Young-Cho
Hwang Young-cho is a former South Korean athlete, winner of the marathon race at the 1992 Summer Olympics and 1994 Asian Games.-Career:...
's retirement Lee became the leading South Korean marathoner, and Lee is the leading South Korean marathoner still now in 2007.
Lee is South Korea's record holder at both the half marathon and marathon distance.
- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
Representing 1990 제71회 전국체육 marathon 2nd Marathon 2:19:15 1991 Donga international marathon 15th Marathon 2:16:56 전국체육대회 marathon 1st Marathon 2:14:30 1992 Tokyo international half marathon Tokyo Tokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...4th Half marathon 1:01:04 73회 전국체육 marathon 9th Marathon 2:20:12 Honolulu international marathon Honolulu, Hawaii HawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...7th Marathon 2:19:18 1993 제64회 Donga marathon 12th Marathon 2:20:13 Seoul half marathon Seoul SeoulSeoul , 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 KoreaSouth KoreaThe 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...1st Half marathon 1:05:48 제74회 전국체육대회 1st Marathon 2:10:27 Honolulu international marathon Honolulu, HI 1st Marathon 2:13:16