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
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