S. Korean gymnast Son Yeon-jae arrives in Rio

The Rio de Janeiro Olympics’ rhythmic gymnastics event, where South Korea’s hopeful Son Yeon-jae will compete, starts on Aug 19./ Korea Times file

By Yeo Ye-rim

Popular South Korean rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae finished her training in Sao Paulo and headed to Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 15.

The competition for rhythmic gymnastics starts on Aug. 19 and Koreans have high hopes for her first Olympic medal.

Son made her international debut at the World Championships in 2010, but finished 32nd and failed to reach the finals.

Son’s skills have rapidly improved, however, and she has since won several medals, including her first gold medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

At the 2012 London Olympics, she finished fifth in the finals.

“The London Olympic Games was my dream stage and I really wanted to get there and to go to the final because no-one from South Korea had done that," Son told CNN in 2015.

Son is fifth in the 2016 world rankings of the International Federation of Gymnastics.

The scores are based on gymnasts’ scores at previous world cups.

After intensive training at the Novogorsk Center in Moscow, Son is hoping for great results in Rio.