12 April 2012 - Six questions to KI Bo Bae (KOR)

Six questions to KI Bo Bae (KOR) Shanghai – 12 April 2012  At 23 years old, KI Bo Bae is starting her third year within the national team of Korea. She reached 1st place in the world ranking in August last year and is currently ranked 2nd. In Shanghai this week she topped the recurve women's qualifications.   Before KI made her first national team in 2010, she won the individual event at the World University Championships 2008. Competing in the World Cup for the first time in Ogden, USA two years later, she won the team event and clinched silver in individual. At her second World Cup appearance in Shanghai, the young Korean then won the three gold medals at stake (individual, team and mixed team)! These results qualified her for the World Cup Final 2010 in Edinburgh, Scotland where she finished 3rd.   The year 2011 was again quite prolific for KI Bo Bae who won the mixed team world title in Turin, Italy. She also clinched the bronze medal in the team event at the world championships, but this was a disappointing result for the Korean favourites, as well as KI's 17th in the individual event. However, one month later she won three gold medals at the Summer Universiade held in China. The year 2011 ended up for her with 3rd place individually and victory in the team event at the Olympic Test Event in London.   This week the Korean lady has been competed in Shanghai for the first World Cup Stage of the year. On Wednesday, 11 April 2011 she topped the qualification round.   What do you think your teammate LEE Sun Jin can bring to the Korean team and to yourself? At first we didn't know each other well, and I was a bit scared. But now it's getting better and I feel like I have many things to learn from her, especially about leadership.      KIM Bo Bae and LEE Sung JinHow does it feel to have an Olympic champion and medallist in the team? It can be a kind of relief because of her experience. We can get so much good advice from her.   How much confidence did your two full seasons in the Korean team bring to you? I'm very proud to be a member of the national team. For each year there have been so many changes in terms of competitiveness. Other continents have improved and I have learnt a lot from that. There have been changes in the competition format and I have also learnt a lot from them.   Were you happy or disappointed after the World Championships Turin 2011? It was fifty-fifty! In terms of performance it was quite disappointing. But from failure I learnt a lot, especially on how to do training for new international games.   What learning did you take from the Test Event of the Olympic Games (3rd and 1st places)? At first, that I need more skills to manage tournaments! But it was also a good experience as a preparation for the Olympics. Now I know about the stadium and the environment. I know how it feels!   Is there anything else you would like to add? The winter season in Korea was difficult. The schedule was very tight. Finally, I succeeded in being in the national team and I'm looking forward to this season. Maybe this is my last chance for the Olympics… Competition is hard in Korea; there are so many good archers very close to each other in terms of skills. Normally I have a very positive mind, so I'll keep being positive!              Thanks and good luck!   Ludivine MAITRE WICKI World Archery Communication   Special thanks to the interpreter CHOI Kyunghwan