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Um Cheonho

Republic of Korea

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSKOR12502199201
NOCRepublic of Korea
Born25 Feb 1992 in  Seoul
GenderMen
Higher educationPhysical Education - Korea National Sport University: Seoul, KOR
OccupationAthlete
LanguagesKorean
ResidenceRepublic of Korea
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 36.86 24 Feb 2024 Seoul  
    1500m 1:45.99 16 Dec 2022 Calgary  
    5000m 6:21.48 22 Sep 2017 Calgary  
    10000m 13:41.36 07 Dec 2019 Nur-Sultan  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    Mass Start 16 Laps   1    
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Club / TeamKorea National Sport University: Incheon, KOR  
Reason for choosing this sportThe elementary school he attended was well known for having a successful short track team. He was also inspired by Korean skater Kim Dong-Sung, who won gold at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano. However, he had persistent injury problems while training in short track and was later encouraged to switch to speed skating by Korean Olympian Lee Kyou-Hyuk.  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerCoaches Ko Seok-Bong and Lee Jun-Ho. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023, 17 Nov 2023)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?He began skating in 1997 at Lila Elementary School in Seoul, Republic of Korea. He focused on short track in middle school before switching to speed skating in 2016.  
General Interest
General Interest
Famous relativesHis older brother Um Cheon-Hee represented the Republic of Korea in roller speed skating at the 2006 World Championships in Anyang, Republic of Korea. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023, 15 Nov 2023; yonhapnews.co.kr, 07 Sep 2006)  
InjuriesHe underwent three operations on his left ankle and five on his right ankle between 2007 and 2015. "The most difficult was the one I had ahead of the 2011 Asian Winter Games [in Kazakhstan]. Despite winning silver and gold in the 1500m and 5000m relay at the event, afterwards I consistently suffered injuries due to the short period of rehabilitation at that time." (Athlete, 15 Nov 2019; MBC News, 27 Dec 2018; Stark TV YouTube channel, 04 Jun 2019; seoul.co.kr, 23 Dec 2019)

In 2009 he fractured his foot after falling in training one day before the Korean selection trials for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. (Athlete, 17 Nov 2018; yonhopnews.co.kr, 14 Oct 2010)
 
Other sportsHe has represented the Republic of Korea in short track, and won a gold medal at the 2011 World Team Championships in Warsaw, Poland. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023; SportsDeskOnline, 15 Oct 2018)  
Hero / IdolKorean businessman Chung Ju-Yung. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachChoi Jae-Bong [club], KOR; Mun Jun [club], KOR; Park Jung-Eun [national], KOR  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/cheonho.um  
General Interest
General Interest
HobbiesSupporting Korean football team FC Seoul and Korean baseball team the Doosan Bears, watching sport. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023, 15 Nov 2023)  
AmbitionsTo compete at the Olympic Winter Games. He also hopes to establish a scholarship foundation for young people. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
Other informationFURTHER EDUCATION
He studied for a postgraduate degree at Korea National Sport University in Seoul, Republic of Korea. (Athlete, 15 Nov 2023; Facebook profile, 05 Jun 2019)
 
Superstitions / Rituals / BeliefsHe tries to avoid the number four. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)  
Memorable sporting achievementWinning the overall mass start title in the 2018/19 World Cup series, and claiming gold in short track in the 5000m relay at the 2011 Asian Winter Games in Kazakhstan. (Athlete, 15 Nov 2023, 09 Feb 2023)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Try your best rather than be the best." (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023, 15 Nov 2023)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2019/2020 Four Continents Championships Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2021/2022 Four Continents Championships Mass Start1  
    2022/2023 Four Continents Championships Team Pursuit1  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2019/2020 Four Continents Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps2  
    2021/2022 Four Continents Championships Team Pursuit3  
    2018/2019 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 8 Laps7  
    2019/2020 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps11  
    2022/2023 World Single Distances Championships 1500m21  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2018/2019 Heerenveen Mass Start 16 Laps1  
    2018/2019 Tomakomai Mass Start 16 Laps2  
    2019/2020 Minsk Mass Start 16 Laps3  
    2018/2019 Obihiro Mass Start 16 Laps3  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps4  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m31  
    2022/2023 World Cup Classification 1500m35  
    2019/2020 World Cup Classification 5000/10000m40