How Ki Bo Bae inspired a new generation, 12 years on from London

On Thursday 2 August 2012, 12 years ago, Ki Bo Bae won the women’s individual archery competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games, by the narrowest of shoot-offs.

Tied with Mexico’s Aida Roman at the end of the recurve women’s final, Ki shot a high eight, about one centimetre out of the nine. But Roman, under immense pressure, could not improve on it, shooting a wider eight. In the press conference afterwards Ki said, famously: “A Korean does not shoot an eight.”

Of all the Korean women’s medals, Ki’s would be the most influential of the modern era.

More media friendly and marketable than other Korean athletes, she became a major star at home and abroad, one of the few archers that could sell tickets to competitions around the world. 

After another team gold and individual bronze at Rio 2016, her last major international tournament would be the 2017 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Rome, where she won her third title. Ki continued to try for the Korean frontline international teams for several more years, but finally officially retired in February 2024.

Twelve years on from London, Ki Bo Bae is in Paris as a commentator for Korean TV, along with other Korean gold medallists including Park Sung-Hyun and Chang Hye Jin. (Aida Roman is also here commentating for a Mexican TV channel).

Ki Bo Bae’s influence is unique in how she inspired a newer generation of athletes, many of whom are on the field today. 

Lisa Barbelin, who won an individual bronze medal on Saturday, mentioned her in the press conference afterwards.

“I was influenced a lot by Ki Bo Bae. I think that she was an outstanding archer on the world stage, along with Chang Hye Jin.”

“These two athletes showed me that I could do something and that if you put enough efforts into your sport, you can achieve success. So thank you to both of them for this.”

Penny Healey of Great Britain, who competed here in Paris, saw Ki Bo Bae’s win at the first Olympics she watched on TV – aged just seven – and was inspired.

“It was just how effortless it seemed. It made archery seem easy. Even across her whole career,” she said.

“Of course, when I started competing, and started experiencing things she must have experienced, I realised that it wasn’t effortless at all, and it must have been incredibly hard work.”

“[She] inspired me a lot with some of my technique, because I went and looked at what other Korean archers did. Because when I was younger, I wanted to be one of them.”

Ki Bo Bae was at the Invalides arena every day to commentate and was seen congratulating the Korean athletes after they won. She spoke about her influence.

“I haven’t been competing in the international competitions for a while but even then, the fans remember me even outside of Korea, and I’m so grateful for this,” she said.

“This is an honour for me. I feel it even more since I retired. And I’m very grateful for the fact that they are actually supporting me and also remembering London.”

Ki now works in archery education. “In Korea, we don’t have a ‘sport for all’ culture. So I will try to expand that area for for everyone. And I will try to inspire the athletes who want to compete in the next Olympics.”

“I want to make room for them.”