Former US Olympic Skier Weds in Korean Style
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Olympic bronze medallist and honorary Korean Toby Dawson married his wife Leah Helmi in Korean traditional style at Lotte Hotel in Busan, Thursday. The pair already wed at Palm Springs, LA, on March 14 in the presence of the American parents who adopted him when he was three and friends in the United States.
The ceremony in Busan was held for his biological parents and relatives in Korea. The couple held a brief press conference ahead of the ceremony, expressing their delight to get married in Korea.
Both dressed in Korean traditional wedding outfits, as is custom in Korea the pair shared special marital liquor and bowed to each other in front of the over 100 attendees. They also followed the tradition of gift offering to their parents and received congratulatory comments from them.
Dawson on Wednesday received honorary citizenship from Hur Nam-sik, Busan mayor. ``Toby is a proud Busan native, who won Bronze medal at the Torino Winter Olympics, made the city proud of him and the world recognized the city of Busan,'' Hur said.
Last year, Dawson retired from professional skiing and turned professional golfer. He met his biological father Kim Jae-su after receiving a DNA test in February and the two have kept in touch since then.
Dawson is to attend a bazaar held by the Holt Children's Service to help orphans waiting to be adopted, on Friday.