Good news came from London thanks to a proud Dankook student.
Kim Hyun-woo (Dankook University, Master’s candidate, College of Sports Science) won the gold medal 2-0 in the final match against Hungary’s Tamas Lorincz in the Greco-Roman 66kg class of men’s wrestling in the 2012 London Olympics.
Kim’s right eye was badly injured during his matches before the finals as he kept getting bashed by his opponents. However, his injury did not deter him from keeping up his fighting will and winning the honorable gold medal. The god medal was more meaningful since it had been 8 years since Korea’s wrestling team had won the gold.
At the age of 14, while in Pyoungwon Middle School, his wrestling coach recommended that Kim seek a professional career, and Kim became a rising star after winning the gold medal in the 2006 Asia Junior Championships and silver medal in the World Junior Championships. After joining the adult team, he won the Asia Senior Championships, took the bronze in the 2011 World Championship and then the gold medal in the Pre-Olympics last December.
He graduated from Kyungnam University and entered Dankook University’s Graduate School of Sports Science. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in leisure sports.
▶ Kim Hyun-woo smiling after winning his gold medal in the London Olympics.