Lee Seung-Hoon
Encyclopedia
Lee Seung-Hoon (born March 6, 1988 in Seoul
) is a South Korean speed skater who won a silver medal in the 5000 meters
and a gold medal in the 10000 metres
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
, becoming the first Asian man to ever achieve these feats. He was a short track speed skater
, winning the 2008 World Championship in 3000m and three gold medals at the 2009 Winter Universiade
. However, Lee converted to long track in September 2009, as he failed to earn his spot on the South Korea national short track team in the national trials.
.
Lee Seung-Hoon faced a wall after he was not selected as a national player in the South Korean national competition held in April 2009. Since Lee was expected to become one of the national skaters, his frustration over the result could have led him to give up skating. However, after a long consideration, Lee declared in front of his family that he would switch to long track speed skating. Lee assumed he could at least become a candidate in the other genre even though Choi Geun-won was considered the long track speed skater going to represent South Korea. Lee excelled, skating a record of 6 minutes 48 seconds and defeating Choi to become a South Korean national skater.
Lee Seung-Hoon has been close friends with gold medalists Mo Tae-Bum
and Lee Sang-Hwa
since they were in grade school. In speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics
, Mo won the gold medal at the Men's 500 meter race and took silver at the 1000 meter race, while Lee Sang-Hwa won the Women's 500 meters. All of them are currently juniors at Korea National Sport University.
in Harbin, China. Lee captured three gold medals in short track speed skating
in the 1000, 1500, and 3000 metre events, a feat only bettered by countryman Sung Si-Bak
during the 2007 Winter Universiade
in Turin, Italy winning every distance, the 500, 1000, 1500, 3000, and 5000m relay. Regardless of his successes Lee shocked many observers by failing to earn a spot on South Korea's national short track team in April 2009. Later that year in September, Lee switched from short track to long track speed skating.
On January 4, 2010, in an interview with Arirang Lee was quoted during an interview as saying: "I would like to tear down the barriers and show the world that Asians can excel in the speed skating program, too, not just in the short track program." Most commentators pointed out that at the time no Asian had ever won a medal in long distance speed skating categories at the Olympics. Relatively obscure in his new field, Lee surprised everyone by finishing the men's 5,000 meters in a time of 6 minutes, 16.95 seconds at the 2010 Winter Olympics
, placing second only behind Sven Kramer
of The Netherlands who clocked in at 6 minutes, 14.60 seconds. He then went on to win the gold medal in the 10,000 meter final, after Sven Kramer was disqualified for finishing in the wrong lane. Lee stated afterward: "My coaches told me at first that Kramer had made a mistake and I saw it on the replay they were showing on the big screen. I want to compete with Kramer again."
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 South Korean speed skater who won a silver medal in the 5000 meters
Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 5000 metres
The men's 5000 metres speed skating competition of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was held at the Richmond Olympic Oval on February 13, 2010.-Records:Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows....
and a gold medal in the 10000 metres
Speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's 10000 metres
The men's 10000 metres speed skating competition of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at Richmond Olympic Oval on 23rd February 2010.The overwhelming pre-race favorite Sven Kramer, who had won 18 consecutive 10,000 m races since 2006, was disqualified due to a missed lane change after 6600 m...
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, becoming the first Asian man to ever achieve these feats. He was a 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...
, winning the 2008 World Championship in 3000m and three gold medals at the 2009 Winter Universiade
2009 Winter Universiade
The 2009 Winter Universiade, the XXIV Winter Universiade took place in Harbin, China. Student athletes from 44 countries took part in the games.-Selection:Harbin was selected by FISU on January 10, 2005 over future 2011 Winter Universiade host city Erzurum...
. However, Lee converted to long track in September 2009, as he failed to earn his spot on the South Korea national short track team in the national trials.
Early life
Lee Seung-Hoon started skating when he was in first grade at Lila Elementary School. However, when the Asian Financial Crisis hit South Korea, his father's business failed in 1998 when he was in the fourth grade. Lee's parents tried to get their son to give up skating because they could not afford the training fee any more. Although they sold their car, Lee insisted on continuing skating and went to the ice rink by bus. Lee was a short track speed skater at Sinmonk High School and Korea National Sport University, but the competition between skaters was very high. Lee was evaluated as a rising rookie, but could not surpass Ahn Hyun-Soo and Lee Ho-SukLee Ho-Suk
Lee Ho-Suk is a South Korean short track speedskater. He won an Olympic gold medal as a part of 5000m Short-track relay team and won four Olympic silver medals. He is the Overall World Champion for 2009 and 2010.-Career:...
.
Lee Seung-Hoon faced a wall after he was not selected as a national player in the South Korean national competition held in April 2009. Since Lee was expected to become one of the national skaters, his frustration over the result could have led him to give up skating. However, after a long consideration, Lee declared in front of his family that he would switch to long track speed skating. Lee assumed he could at least become a candidate in the other genre even though Choi Geun-won was considered the long track speed skater going to represent South Korea. Lee excelled, skating a record of 6 minutes 48 seconds and defeating Choi to become a South Korean national skater.
Lee Seung-Hoon has been close friends with gold medalists Mo Tae-Bum
Mo Tae-Bum
Mo Tae-Bum is a South Korean speed skater. He started speedskating while in the third grade. Prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics, Mo won two distances at the 2006 World Junior Speed Skating Championships...
and Lee Sang-Hwa
Lee Sang-Hwa
Lee Sang-Hwa is a South Korean long track speed skater who specialises in the sprint distances. She is an Olympic gold medalist and a World Championships medalist on the 500 metres, and on this distance she has also placed in the top three in World Cup events four times...
since they were in grade school. In speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, Mo won the gold medal at the Men's 500 meter race and took silver at the 1000 meter race, while Lee Sang-Hwa won the Women's 500 meters. All of them are currently juniors at Korea National Sport University.
Career
One of Lee Seung-Hoon's first major international competitions was at the 2009 Winter Universiade2009 Winter Universiade
The 2009 Winter Universiade, the XXIV Winter Universiade took place in Harbin, China. Student athletes from 44 countries took part in the games.-Selection:Harbin was selected by FISU on January 10, 2005 over future 2011 Winter Universiade host city Erzurum...
in Harbin, China. Lee captured three gold medals in short track speed skating
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...
in the 1000, 1500, and 3000 metre events, a feat only bettered by countryman Sung Si-Bak
Sung Si-Bak
Sung Si-Bak is a South Korean short track speed skater. At the 2007 Winter Universiade, he won all five short track speed skating events. Sung has won more than 20 World Cup races and earned two World Cup titles, in addition to skating on the winning World Championship 5000 m relay teams in...
during the 2007 Winter Universiade
2007 Winter Universiade
The 2007 Winter Universiade, the XXIII Winter Universiade, took place in Turin, Italy from January 17 to January 27, 2007.-Opening ceremony:The Opening Ceremony of the XXIII Winter Universiade Torino 2007 was held with a cast of acrobats, circus performers and dancers.The evening began with the...
in Turin, Italy winning every distance, the 500, 1000, 1500, 3000, and 5000m relay. Regardless of his successes Lee shocked many observers by failing to earn a spot on South Korea's national short track team in April 2009. Later that year in September, Lee switched from short track to long track speed skating.
On January 4, 2010, in an interview with Arirang Lee was quoted during an interview as saying: "I would like to tear down the barriers and show the world that Asians can excel in the speed skating program, too, not just in the short track program." Most commentators pointed out that at the time no Asian had ever won a medal in long distance speed skating categories at the Olympics. Relatively obscure in his new field, Lee surprised everyone by finishing the men's 5,000 meters in a time of 6 minutes, 16.95 seconds at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, placing second only behind Sven Kramer
Sven Kramer
Sven Kramer is a Dutch long track speed skater. He is the Olympic champion of the 5000 meter in Vancouver 2010, and four-time European and World Allround Champion. He is also three-time world champion and world record holder in the 5,000 m, 10,000 m, and the team pursuit...
of The Netherlands who clocked in at 6 minutes, 14.60 seconds. He then went on to win the gold medal in the 10,000 meter final, after Sven Kramer was disqualified for finishing in the wrong lane. Lee stated afterward: "My coaches told me at first that Kramer had made a mistake and I saw it on the replay they were showing on the big screen. I want to compete with Kramer again."
Personal Records
Olympic Records
| Distance | Time | Date | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 m | 12:58.55 | February 24, 2010 |  Richmond Richmond Olympic Oval The Richmond Olympic Oval , or the Richmond Oval is a facility in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It was the venue of the speed skating events and the official Olympic anti-doping lab of the 2010 Winter Olympics... |