Sang-Hwa Lee

instagram.com/sanghwazz/
twitter.com/speed_sanghwa

Reason for choosing this sport	A coach encouraged her to become a skater after noticing her potential.
When and where did you begin this sport?	She began skating in her first year of school.

Memorable sporting achievement	Winning gold in the 500m at the Olympic Winter Games 2010 and 2014. (Athlete, 11 Nov 2017)
Awards and honours	In 2018 she received a Special Award at the 23rd Coca-Cola Sports Awards Ceremony in the Republic of Korea. (naver.com, 06 Sep 2018) In 2014 she received the Top National Sports Award at the Annual Korean Olympic Committee Awards. (busanhaps.com, 01 Mar 2014; yonhapnews.co.kr, 27 Feb 2014) In 2014 she was presented with the Grand Prize at the 19th Coca-Cola Sports Awards Ceremony in the Republic of Korea. (yonhapnews.co.kr, 12 Mar 2014; koreaherald.com, 12 Mar 2014) In 2013 she received the Grand Prize at the MBN Women's Sports Awards Ceremony in the Republic of Korea. (donga.com, 17 Dec 2013) She was presented with the Korean Olympic Committee President's Award in 2011. (yonhapnews.co.kr, 18 Feb 2011) She received the Best Athlete Award at the Korea Women's Sports Awards Ceremony in 2010. (sbs.co.kr, 03 Dec 2010)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Cheer up." (Athlete, 09 Feb 2017)
Injuries	A calf injury caused her to withdraw from the 1000m at the 2017 World Single Distances Championships in Gangneung, Republic of Korea. (sbssports.sbs.co.kr, 11 Feb 2017; yonhapnews.co.kr, 13 Dec 2016) She has had persistent problems with a chronic left knee injury and was planning to undergo surgery following the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. However, she decided to postpone the operation until after the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang because her condition improved ahead of the 2015/16 season. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2017; yonhapnews.co.kr, 28 Oct 2015; sbs.co.kr, 30 Nov 2014) She injured her ankle during the 2009/10 season and was unable to train for two months. (samsungfire.com, 03 May 2013)
Other information	RETIREMENT She retired from competitive speed skating in May 2019. (schaatsen.nl, 10 May 2019) AMBASSADOR She served as an ambassador for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, and the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Republic of Korea. (kado.net. 23 Apr 2016; naver.com, 24 Nov 2014)
Hobbies	Painting her nails, collecting Lego. (Instagram profile, 28 Sep 2018; yonhapnews.co.kr, 31 Jan 2018)