Yun Sung-bin vies for gold in PyeongChang Olympics

“He is winning at the track that he says he hates the most,” broadcasters said Saturday as Yun Sung-bin finished his first race at the sixth leg of the 2017-2018 International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup in Altenberg, Germany.

Yun recorded the fastest time (combined time 1:54.28) Saturday at the Altenberg track, in which he had a difficult race before, seizing the fourth victory of the season. At this track that is known to be challenging due to its many curbs, Yun had never recorded higher than 5th (season 2016-2017) but ranked first at Saturday’s event with 57.24 seconds.

Yun added 225 points on the day, which makes him the first in the season’s rank with the total 1,320 points. He is 90 points higher than the second ranker Martins Dukurs (1,230 points) and 216 points than the third ranker Thomas Dukurs (1,104 points). Despite his excellent records, Yun has to give up his position as he chose to train for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics instead of the eighth Königssee World Cup in Germany.

There is only one reason that he is forgoing the title of world champion and coming back to Korea — a gold medal in the PyeongChang Olympics. He is dreaming of victories both in the 2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Bo-Mi Im bom@donga.com