Oh’s 353/360 ratified as new 70m world record

In both 2011 and 2013, Oh Jin Hyek collected individual silver at the World Archery Championships. The podiums sandwiched an Olympic campaign that saw him become Korea’s first individual men’s Olympic Champion at London 2012.

With the chance to improve those second place finishes at Copenhagen 2015, Jin Hyek faltered, saying he could not control himself in the wind.

He qualified in 11th, then lost in the first round to the 102 seed from Kazakhstan, Sanzhar Mussayev. He picked up a team world title with Ku Bonchan and Kim Woojin, but it was – by no means – the worlds that Jin Hyek wanted.

“It is true that I was depressed after Copenhagen,” said the Olympic Champion. “But I controlled my emotions because I cannot always do well. I don’t think my performance was especially bad but the other competitors shot well.”

“I found the problems and solutions from inside myself, then focused on practising to get back to the better condition.”

It didn’t take long for Jin Hyek to bounce back.

“I felt better quickly,” he explained. “Then, luckily, I shot a world record!”

As part of a four-distance 1440 round in Yecheon, Korea for the 32nd Korea Archery Association President Flag Tour tournament at the end of August, Oh Jin Hyek scored 353 out of a possible 360 points for 36 arrows at 70 metres.

The score was officially ratified as a world record on 4 September 2015.

It was one point more than the previous world-best mark of 352, shot by Oh’s teammate Kim Woojin at the end of 2014.

The 353 score followed a 327 at 90 metres, before he finished with 336 at 50 and 359 at 30 metres for 1375 in total. The world record for the 1440 round, which Woojin set with the previous 70-metre record, sits at 1391. 

Oh Jin Hyek is next set to appear at the Aquece Rio International Archery Challenge, the test event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as the Korean B Team takes to the field at Medellin 2015.