Jun Woong-tae (Korean전웅태; RRJeon Ung-tae, born 1 August 1995) is a South Korean modern pentathlete.

Jun Woong-tae
Personal information
NationalitySouth Korean
Born (1995-08-01) 1 August 1995 (age 29)
Seoul, South Korea
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight66 kg (146 lb)
Sport
CountrySouth Korea
SportModern pentathlon
ClubGwangju city hall
Medal record
Men's modern pentathlon
Representing  South Korea
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo Individual
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Berlin Team
Gold medal – first place 2016 Moscow Relay
Gold medal – first place 2017 Cairo Relay
Gold medal – first place 2019 Budapest Team
Gold medal – first place 2022 Alexandria Relay
Gold medal – first place 2022 Alexandria Mixed relay
Gold medal – first place 2024 Zhengzhou Relay
Silver medal – second place 2019 Budapest Relay
Silver medal – second place 2021 Cairo Relay
Silver medal – second place 2023 Bath Mixed relay
Silver medal – second place 2024 Zhengzhou Team
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Moscow Team
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Cairo Team
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Budapest Individual
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Bath Team
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Zhengzhou Individual
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Jakarta Individual
Gold medal – first place 2022 Hangzhou Individual
Gold medal – first place 2022 Hangzhou Team

Sports career

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The athlete from Seoul was the first Korean player to win a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after a series of victories, including  winning the UIPM World Cup in 2018,[1] winning a gold medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang in the same year,[2] and a bronze medal in the individual event at the World Championships in 2019.[3] Woongtae also competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, in the men's event, achieving 19th place.[4]

Woongtae started out as a swimmer, before being encouraged by one of his teachers at the Seoul Sports Middle School to pursue modern pentathlon. He trained and mastered the five disciplines of the sport with the support of his school, the Gwangju City Hall and the Korean Modern Pentathlon Federation, as well as the unequivocal support from his parents.

As of July 21, 2021, Woongtae Jun is 4th in the UIPM Senior Global World Championships Ranking and 1st in the UIPM Senior World Cup Ranking,[5] making him one of the sports' most promising medal prospects for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games [6]

When reflecting on his performance during the 2016 Rio Olympics, Woongtae candidly spoke of his inexperience at the time and spoke of his commitment to train harder and prepare more, with hopes of being selected to represent South Korea and win a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.[7]

"I will definitely win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics next year and make the modern pentathlon into the most important event in Korea."[8]

At the 2020 Summer Olympics held in August 2021, Jun won the bronze medal in men's individual modern pentathlon, behind winner Joe Choong and silver medalist Ahmed El-Gendy. His bronze medal was the first Olympic medal from a competitor from South Korea in this sport.[9][10]

References

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  1. ^ "South Korea's Jun wins gold at men's Modern Pentathlon World Cup in Hungary - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  2. ^ 주, 경돈 (2018-09-01). "(LEAD) (Asian Games) S. Korea's Jun Woong-tae wins gold in men's modern pentathlon". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  3. ^ Rowbottom, Mike (10 April 2021). "Jun wins men's title at UIPM World Cup in Sofia". Inside the Games.
  4. ^ "Woongtae Jun". Rio2016.com. Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Woongtae JUN". Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM). 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  6. ^ ""만능 스포츠맨 상징 근대5종, 새 역사 기다리세요"". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  7. ^ "Road to Tokyo: Team energy fuels Olympic dream for Woongtae JUN (KOR)". Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM). 2020-05-27. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  8. ^ "근대5종 국가대표 전웅태 "도쿄올림픽 연기돼 정말 다행"". woman.chosun.com (in Korean). 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  9. ^ "Jeon Ung-Tae". olympedia.org. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Individual, Men". olympedia.org. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
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