Lee Jun-Ho

Lee Jun-Ho first competed at the Olympics in 1988, when short track speed skating was still a demonstration sport, winning the 3,000 m on that occasion. His real breakthrough came in 1990, when he won the overall world title in Amsterdam, while also winning the final race (3,000 m). Earning two more overall medals in 1991 and 1992 (both bronzes), Lee was one of the favorites for the Albertville Olympics. In the semi-finals of the 1,000 m, he beat the world record, but he was unable to turn that into a gold medal, finishing third. In the relay event, though, he was able to earn a gold medal with the strong Korean team. Competing in his third Games in Lillehammer 1994, Lee Jun-Ho made it into the semi-finals of both individual events, but was eliminated in both cases. His final international medal came in 1995, when he won a silver in the World Team Championships, having won the title the previous year. In 1999, Lee was appointed coach of the French national team, before moving on to the South Korean women’s squad in 2002. At the 2006 Winter Olympics, he covered the sport as a commentator for Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).