Um Cheonho

Club / Team	Korea National Sport University: Incheon, KOR
Reason for choosing this sport	The 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.

Most influential person in career

Coaches Ko Seok-Bong and Lee Jun-Ho. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023, 17 Nov 2023)

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.

Famous relatives	His 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)
Injuries	He 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 sports	He 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 / Idol	Korean businessman Chung Ju-Yung. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)

Name of coach

Choi Jae-Bong [club], KOR; Mun Jun [club], KOR; Park Jung-Eun [national], KOR

www.facebook.com/cheonho.um

Hobbies	Supporting Korean football team FC Seoul and Korean baseball team the Doosan Bears, watching sport. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023, 15 Nov 2023)
Ambitions	To compete at the Olympic Winter Games. He also hopes to establish a scholarship foundation for young people. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Other information	FURTHER 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 / Beliefs	He tries to avoid the number four. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Memorable sporting achievement	Winning 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)