The South Korean monk who showed country’s snowboarders the path to Olympic glory
Gold medallist Choi Ga-on, silver medallist Kim Sang-kyum and bronze medallist Yu Seung-eun all benefited from Venerable Hosan’s influence
A Buddhist monk has drawn international attention after South Korea won landmark Olympic snowboard medals, capping decades of his support for young athletes in a sport long unpopular at home.
Venerable Hosan, head monk of Bongsunsa Temple and himself a rider, launched a youth competition more than 20 years ago whose alumni bagged three Olympic snowboard medals this month in Italy – including South Korea’s first gold ever in the sport.
All three medallists, Choi Ga-on, who won the women’s halfpipe, Kim Sang-kyum, who claimed silver in the men’s parallel giant slalom, and Yu Seung-eun, third in women’s big air, are “Dharma Kids”, having competed at the Dharma Snowboard Competition which the monk founded.
“Venerable Hosan is obviously over the moon. He’s been praying for the athletes,” Lee Kyung-min, deputy manager of the Bongsunsa Temple, said.
“At the same time, he feels a little uneasy that only the medal winners are getting the spotlight, and not other athletes who competed,” he added.
Venerable Hosan declined to speak to Agence France-Presse, citing his duties and pre-arranged prayer schedule.