Kim Dong-seon breaks Korean dressage record

By Cho Mu-hyun

Equestrian Kim Dong-seon finished third-place in the individual special dressage Sunday at the five-day Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge in West Palm Beach, Fla. Third is the highest ever by a Korean at an international competition.

The 22-year-old, who won gold medals in the team dressage at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and 2010 Gwangzhou Asian Games, scored 65.022 percent at the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) grand prix.

The sixth-place by his Hanwha Galleria team coach Seo Jung-kyun at the 1988 CDI Aachen had the nation’s previous best result at an international tournament.

Kim also participated in the Gold Coast Dressage Association Open Festival that ran from Jan. 19 to 22, also in West Palm Beach, scoring 64.689 percent to come fourth.

Korea is currently in qualifying Group G for the individual dressage, competing against Japan and Malaysia for a sole berth to the London Olympics.

Korea has already missed out on the chance to go to the Summer Games in the team dressage. The two available spots from Group G (representing Asia and Oceania) and Group F (for Africa and the Middle East) have already been won by equestrian powerhouses Australia and New Zealand.

However Kim’s recent performances have raised hopes that he will progress in the individual category.

He is planning to stay in Florida until the end of February and participate in successive tournaments, also Olympic qualifiers, while continuing training.

“We are preparing hard to participate and earn a ticket for Korea at the London Olympics,” said Seo. “Kim Dong-seon’s hard work and heightened concentration in tournaments is showing increased potential and better results, which is very positive.”