A South Korean equestrian rider kept a promise to honour an uncle who died after being crushed by his horse at the 2006 Asian Games with an emotional home gold on Saturday.
Kim Hyun-Sub's victory in the team dressage in Incheon meant the Koreans retained the Asian Games title they won in Guangzhou four years ago.
His uncle Kim Hyung-Chil died while competing at the 2006 Doha Games. His horse clipped a fence, sending the rider crashing to the ground. The horse, whose hoof had got caught in the hurdle, landed on top of him.
Kim Hyung-Chil died instantly from multiple skull fractures, the first fatal casualty at an equestrian eventing cross-country competition at the quadrennial event.
The uncle died without having won a gold medal, bronze in 1986 and silver in 2002 his best showing When Kim captured gold in Guangzhou he tearfully dedicated his triumph to his uncle.
But the 33-year-old credited his uncle for his new success too, claiming he was watching over him.
"Everything I do on a horse I learned from him," he said. "Every time I ride I think of him."
Kim, considered less of a medal contender in the individual events than team-mates Kim Dong-Sun and Hwang Young-Shik, insisted he could still produce a surprise.
"There is very little between us in terms of talent," he said. "Whoever avoids making mistakes will win the gold medal."
Source: AFP