Lee-Kyung Chun

1976-

Korean speed skater

As short track speed skating is one of the most popular sports in Korea, it's no wonder South Korea's Lee-Kyung Chun was one of the greatest women's short track speed skaters. Her gold medal in the women's 1,000 meter event at Lillehammer, Norway in 1994 was just the beginning of a sports career highlighted by world records and Olympic records. She is the reigning overall women's world champion short track speed skater. Today, she is a member of the IOC Athletes' Commission.

Olympic Career

Short track speed skating entered the Winter Olympics in 1992. Just two years later, 18-year-old Chun participated in the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. She shined as she won two of the three short track speed skating events. In the 1,000-meter race, she faced veteran skaters such as Cathy Turner of the US, and Sylvie Daigle and Nathalie Lambert of

Canada. In the final lap of the 1,000m she pulled ahead of Lambert to win the gold by one-tenth of a second, pulling off an Olympic record speed of 1 minute 36.87 seconds. In the 3,000m relay, Chun led her Korean team to a gold medal win.

At the Nagano, Japan Winter Olympics in 1998, Chun surpassed her Lillehammer victories. The short track speed skating venue was marked by a particularly exciting race involving Chun and world champion Yang Yang from China. Yang was eventually disqualified for her attempt to impede Chun during the race. Chun, in the final strides, thrust her foot out at the finish line to win the gold medal by the length of a skate blade.

In addition to the 1,000m at Nagano, Chun earned a bronze medal in the women's 500m race, a vast improvement over the 15th place she garnered in Lillehammer. Chun also repeated her performance at the women's 3,000m relay, leading the Korean team to a gold medal. The 3,000m time achieved a world record at 4:16.260.

Chun has set women's short track speed skating world records in addition to Olympic records. She holds world records in three of four individual events. Her impressive career marks world records in Beijing in 1993 for 1,000m with a time of 1:37.19. In 1995 in Gjvik, she skated 5:02.18 in the 3,000m. That same year, at the Winter University Games in Jaca, Spain, Chun set another world record in the 1,500m in 2:27.38. She and her teammates went on to win the 3,000m relay in 1996 in Beijing with a time of 4:17.63.

Her World Championship wins consist of three gold medals and two silver in 1995, two gold medals and two silver in 1996, and three gold medals and one bronze in 1997. In the Team World Championships, Chun won gold medals overall in 1995 and 1996.

Post Olympic Achievements

Following her years in athletic competition, Chun has held positions in various sports organizations. She is a member of the Women and Sport Working Group and in 1999 joined the Korean National Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission. In 2002, she was one of two women athletes appointed by the International Olympic Committee president to join the elected members of the IOC Athletes Commission. Chun joined Egyptian swimmer Rania Amr Elwan as new members to, as the IOC noted, ensure the commission has a fair balance between continents and gender. In 2002, Chun was named to Bud Greenspan 's list of 25 Greatest Winter Olympians.

Chronology

With a Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in physical education, Chun holds a teaching certificate. She is a speed skating lecturer and golf teacher's assistant. Part of the Korean powerhouse that dominates women's short track speed skating, Lee-Kyung Chun is one of only seven women to earn four or more career gold medals in the Winter Olympics. She is a two-time Olympic champion, is ranked first in the world for both the 1,500m and 3,000m short track speed skating distances, and is the defending Olympic champion and the world record holder in the 1,000m.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Books

Chronicle of the Olympics. New York: DK Publishing, 1998.

Other

GM Media Online, http://media.gm.com/events/olympics/25_greatest.html (November 15, 2002).

International Skating Union, www.isu.org/historical/sthisrecs.html (November 15, 2002).

Official Web Site of the Olympic Movement, http://www.olympic.org (November 15, 2002).

Official Web Site of the Olympic Movement, http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_5.pdf (November 15, 2002).

Sketch by Lorraine Savage

Awards and Accomplishments