Friday’s Olympian to Watch: Yun Ok-Hee

Ever since I read the Hunger Games, I’ve become mildly obsessed with archery. I even bought a Groupon to take classes (I still haven’t used it yet!). So this week’s Olympian to watch is a straight shooting lady who everyone is trying to beat. Yun Ok-Hee (Yun is her surname) hails from South Korea where she began her career in archery at the young age of 11. In an interview she said it was watching the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta that really inspired her. She won two medals (gold and bronze) in Beijing and according to all of the archery world, she has a strong chance of sweeping this year’s games.

In her spare time Yun enjoys reading and listening to music, but also is an advocate for promoting the  historical legacy of Korean archery and has helped several Korean filmmakers accurately portray the sport. She gives a great deal of credit to her heritage for her success. In an interview with New Korean Cinema, she said, “Our sensitive fingertips handed down from our ancestors and our spiritual strength and willingness to fight to the very end are our secrets.” This in combination with her training (which includes bungee jumping and platform diving) have definitely made her an Olympian to watch in 2012.

Olympic Sport: Archery

Hometown: Seongnam, South Korea

Birthdate: March 1, 1985 (age 27)

Height: 5’3″ (this gives me hope that I can still become a master archer; she’s only 4 inches taller than me)

Weight: 139 lbs

It was tough to find a lot of detail about Yun Ok-Hee, but check these out if you would like to learn more.

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2 thoughts on “Friday’s Olympian to Watch: Yun Ok-Hee

  1. letizia

    She seems so fascinating and I’ll definitely watch out for her during the Games. I love the quote you provided (and the fact that she’s wearing Hello Kitty protective gear somehow adds to her coolness for some reason!).

    Reply
    1. eliseblalock Post author

      I loved her Hello Kitty style! She seems to be a quiet force to be reckoned with – when she does speak it’s certainly worth while. Have a great day, Letizia!

      Reply

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