North Korea's first Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics, winning gold in the men's vault at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and a symbol of hope for his country's athletic program.
Ri Segwang is a retired North Korean artistic gymnast, renowned for his exceptional skills on the vault apparatus in men's artistic gymnastics (MAG). He etched his name in history as the first North Korean to win a gold medal on vault at the Asian Games, a feat he achieved in 2006.
Ri Segwang's impressive career took off when he represented the April 25 Sports Club, a premier sports organization in North Korea. In 2007, he clinched a bronze medal on vault at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, solidifying his position as a force to be reckoned with in the sport.
Ri Segwang's most notable contribution to the world of gymnastics is the creation of an extremely difficult new vault, which bears his name. In 2009, he successfully performed the Tsukahara 14 entry, followed by a full twisting double backwards salto in tuck position. This innovative move was valued at a difficulty score of 7.2, the second highest in the world at the time.
Ri Segwang's participation in the 2009 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships was marked by a seventh-place finish in the individual vault final. Despite qualifying first, he faltered in the final event, falling on his first vault and going out of bounds on his second. The North Korean delegation, including Ri, was later banned from competing in artistic gymnastics at the 2012 London Olympics due to age falsification accusations against their female gymnasts. The two-year ban ended in 2012, but unfortunately, it came too late for Ri to participate in the Olympics.
At the 2014 Asian Games, Ri Segwang showed his mettle by qualifying in first place ahead of the 2012 Olympic champion, Yang Hak Seon of South Korea. Although he narrowly missed the bronze medal, his performance was a testament to his enduring skills and dedication to the sport.
Ri Segwang's impact on men's artistic gymnastics is undeniable. His ground-breaking vault and consistent performances have inspired a new generation of gymnasts. His legacy serves as a reminder of the power of perseverance and dedication in overcoming adversity.
