Olympic Champion Park Sung-Hyun joins Korean coaching staff for 2022

Legendary international archer Park Sung-Hyun, who won the Olympic Games in 2004, will rejoin the Korean squad in 2022 – but this time as a member of staff.

She was one of six coaches named to the team ahead of winter training, which began earlier this week at the national training centre in Jincheon. Park will be responsible for the women’s team and is expected to take to the field at international tournaments to support her athletes in competition.

The position of head coach remains vacant with a decision likely before the end of the month.

As well as accruing three gold and four medals over two Olympic appearances in 2004 and 2008, placing her second in the all-time medal table at the Games, Park Sung-Hyun was also the first recurve archer in history to break the 1400-point barrier on the 1440 Round.

The feat has since been matched by Ryoo Su Jung and reigning Olympic Champion An San – both in 2020.

It’s possible that all three of the world’s 1400 shooters with a recurve could be united on the Korean squad for the upcoming season, although there is plenty of time and arrows left in the selection process, with the final team announcement not expected until the spring.

Korea will host the second stage of the 2022 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Gwangju in May.