Korean gymnast aims to clinch gold at Asian Games

Gymnast Kim Han-sol practices at Jincheon National Training Center, Wednesday. / Yonhap

By Kang Aa-young

South Korea's rising star gymnast Kim Han-sol will compete for gold at the upcoming Asian Games by performing the signature technique of the nation's first gymnastics Olympic champion Yang Hak-seon.

“I am trying to clinch a gold medal in the vault and the floor exercise by showing Yang's technique,” Kim said during a practice session held Wednesday at Jincheon in North Chungcheong Province.

Kim will fill Yang's void during the Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games, which will kick off next week. Yang, who won the men's vault title at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, cannot participate in the upcoming race, as he failed to qualify for the Asian Games national team. Yang is now recuperating from a hamstring injury.

For this reason, the 23-year-old new ace gymnast is attracting attention from the public as the nation's gold medal hopeful in the category. Kim's latest achievements include a bronze medal at last year's FIG World Challenge Cup.

“The floor exercise event is scheduled prior to the vault, so I am putting extra effort into the floor exercise,” Kim said. “If I secure gold at the floor, the vault event will also work out well,” he said.

“For my first attempt, I plan to perform the Yang 1 technique, and then will try Lopez,” he said. “There is a possibility of about 70 percent to 80 percent for me to succeed in performing the Yang 1.”

Kim said he would be a little nervous and feel a sense of responsibility as a national team player.

“Since Yang missed the Asian Games due to his injury, people say I am highly likely to win a gold medal on his behalf,” Kim said. “I want to repay the citizens.”

North Korean artistic gymnast Ri Se-gwang, Yang's renowned rival who claimed first place in the Rio Olympics, will engage in a fierce competition with Kim.

“Ri Se-gwang was already on top of the game when I was young. But I won't be intimidated. I believe there will be compensation if I do what I need to do,” Kim said.

Despite Ri's presence, Kim's performance score on vault remains a world record. If Kim lands perfectly and avoids mistakes, chances are high for him to win the gold medal, according to a director of the national team.