Rio 2016: N. Korean gymnast wins gold with self-invented technique

North Korean gymnast Ri Se-gwang won a gold medal in the men’s vault Monday with a self-invented jumping technique that bears his name, scoring 15.616 and 15.766 in the first and second rounds. It was the North’s second gold medal. / Yonhap

By Hong Dam-young

North Korean gymnast Ri Se-gwang won a gold medal in the men’s vault Monday with a self-invented jumping technique that bears his name. It was the North’s second gold medal.

Ri scored 15.616 and 15.766 in the first and second rounds. His average was 15.691, outperforming rivals from Russia, Japan and Romania. The second attempt included his special vaulting technique.

“I am pleased to have delivered this glorious victory to Kim Jong-un, our dear leader, and to our military and people,” Ri said, according to Yonhap news agency.

Ri is the second North Korean male gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal, after Pae Gil-su in the men’s pommel horse at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Ri mentioned Yang Hak-seon, the South Korean gymnast who won gold in the men’s vault at the 2012 Olympics but could not participate in the Rio Games due to injury.

“This case proves that (Yang) Hak-seon is not the sole person representing (Korea’s) gymnastics,” Ri said. “He should get good treatment.”

Russia's Denis Ablyazin won silver and Kenzo Shirai of Japan took bronze.