S. Korean para Nordic skier eyes biathlon medal at Beijing 2022

All News 16:30 March 19, 2018

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea, March 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's first Winter Paralympic Games gold medalist Sin Eui-hyun said Monday he will try to get a medal in biathlon events at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics.

Sin became the first South Korean to win a Winter Paralympics gold after he topped the men's 7.5-kilometer sitting cross-country skiing event at PyeongChang 2018. He also earned bronze in the men's 15km sitting cross-country skiing.

The 37-year-old para Nordic skier, however, failed to grab a medal in biathlon events at the PyeongChang Paralympics after shooting mistakes. He took fifth place in both the 7.5km and 12.5km sitting biathlon events.

"I had regrets on my biathlon performance because I did poorly in shooting," Sin said after the ceremony to mark the disbanding of the South Korean delegation to the 2018 Paralympics in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. "I want to improve my shooting and go for medals at Beijing 2022."

South Korean para Nordic skier Sin Eui-hyun (2nd from L) poses for a photo with national team athletes at the ceremony to mark the disbanding of the South Korean delegation to the 2018 Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, on March 19, 2018. (Yonhap)

Before going to China, Sin said he'll also try to compete in handcycling at the Tokyo Summer Paralympics in 2020.

"I competed in a local handcycling competition in the past, but I hurt my pride there," he said. "I want to restore my pride in handcycling by showing a good performance in Tokyo."

Sin, who lost his legs due to a car accident in 2006, showed tremendous energy on the snow in PyeongChang. He competed in seven events, racing 61.7 km total.

"My strength comes from my strong will and desire to win," he said, adding that helping his mother with farm work also strengthened his power.

Sin said he still couldn't believe that he won the gold medal. But he urged more support for para athletes so that there can be many Paralympic medalists from South Korea.

"I can currently focus on training since I have a club that pays me, but many athletes just train on their own," he said. "If we can have steady investment and support for para athletes, I believe we can see the 'next Sin Eui-hyun' in the future."