Thursday, Jul. 24, 2008

94. Im Dong Hyun

Archery
South Korea
Age: 22

Could a man in a floppy white hat be South Korea's Olympic savior? Male archers from South Korea have dominated the world championships over the past decade. Yet while their female counterparts have racked up plenty of Olympic medals, the South Korean men haven't won a single Olympic gold in archery's individual event. Im Dong Hyun, who peers out from under a white cloth hat during competition, is the country's best shot at ending that drought. Although he merely managed sixth in Athens, he's not one to let pressure rattle him in this supremely mental sport. Im set the world record in the 72-arrow Olympic round at Athens, and in a competition this May he coolly shot a perfect ten, or three bullseyes, in a single round.