Ko Byung-Wook

Club / Team

Uijeongbu City Office: Seoul, KOR

Hero / Idol

US skater Chad Hedrick. (keny2040.blog.me, 10 Jan 2011)

When and where did you begin this sport?

He took up skating at age seven and began competing in year four of primary school.

Sporting philosophy / motto	"I don't need any sound, speed is everything." (keny2040.blog.me, 10 Jan 2011)
Other information	HEARING IMPAIRMENT He has an hearing impairment as a result of contracting a high fever at age two. He underwent cochlear implant surgery when he was young, which helps provide a sense of sound through a small electronic device. He has also received speech therapy. He chose speed skating over short track because it can be difficult for him to hear the starting gun clearly. (zum.com, 29 Jan 2014; bikewhat.com, 18 Jul 2013; love.web44.net, 13 Jun 2011) PARA-CYCLIST He began cycling as a part of his skating training, and became a para-cyclist after entering high school. He won three gold medals at the 2014 National Para Games in Korea. "I want to achieve good results in both speed skating and cycling at international tournaments." (kyeongin.com 06 Nov 2014)
Other sports	He has competed in para-cycling and represented Korea at 2013 Deaflympics in Sofia, Bulgaria. (kyeonggi.com, 07 Nov 2014)

Reason for choosing this sport

His primary school teacher recommended the sport to him.

Ambitions	To compete at the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan, and at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (zum.com, 29 Jan 2014)
Awards and honours	In 2012 he and his teammates Lee Seung-Hoon and Joo Hyong-Jun received an Excellent Group Award at the Coca-Cola Athletics Awards in Korea. (newsshare.co.kr, 05 Feb 2012)

Name of coach

Erik Bouwman [national], NED

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