Park Sung Hyun - Korea

The 2001 world champion, Park Sung Hyun, 21, enters Athens as one of her sport’s premier performers.

Along with her team-mate Yun Mi Jin (Park is older by just four months), she dominated the 2003 world championships in New York. She lost to Yun in the final at the worlds, then also reached the final and again lost to Yun in the Olympic Test Event in August 2003. At both events, she enjoyed team success.

The 170cm, 70kg athlete competes for the Chonbuk Provincial Government club. She has been shooting since age 10. She has carried some of her habits from childhood through to senior ranks - she kept a small soft toy on her quiver for good luck during her 2003 worlds campaign. As well, she used a Winnie the Pooh chest guard in New York, featuring Winnie and Tigger.

Park’s only international competition this year was the German Grand Prix in Whyl in June, where she won the bronze individual medal and the team gold medal. She has an outstanding record within Korea, where her wins include the 2002 National Sports Festival Archery Tour.

Park is making her Olympic debut in Athens.