Sydney, State Sports Centre, Olympic Park, 30 September 2000, Games of the XXVII Olympiad: Kyong-Hun KIM of Korea (in red) in action against Daniel TRENTON of Australia in the +80kg taekwondo final. KIM went on to win the gold medal. Credit: Getty Images/Robert Cianflone
Born: 15 July 1975
Birthplace: Hanam (Korea / South Korea)
Nationality: Korea / South Korea
Sport: Taekwondo
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Sydney 2000
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 1
Other results:
World Championships
Bronze: 2 (97, 01)
First heavyweight taekwondo champion
In the inaugural Olympic heavyweight taekwondo tournament, Kyong-Hun Kim opened with two 5-0 victories and then faced co-favorite Pascal Gentil of France in the semifinals.
Although the match was hard-fought and close, Kim managed to win 6-2. In the final his opponent was local Australian hero Daniel Trenton. Kim, making the most of a 15cm height advantage, moved ahead 2-1 in the first round, extended his lead to 5-2 in the second round and eventually won 6-2. Although there were eight weight categories (four for men and four for women) at the Sydney Olympics, Korea was limited to only four total entrants. Three won gold medals and the fourth won a silver medal.