1. Early Life and Background
Lee Dohyun's early life was significantly shaped by his family background and an early introduction to climbing, largely influenced by his father.
1.1. Birth and Family
Lee Dohyun was born on October 8, 2002, in South Korea. His father, Lee Changhyun, is a climbing instructor, which played a pivotal role in Lee Dohyun's introduction to the sport.
1.2. Introduction to Climbing
Influenced by his father's profession, Lee Dohyun began climbing at the young age of four. This early exposure laid the foundation for his future career in competitive climbing.
2. Climbing Career
Lee Dohyun's climbing career began in youth competitions before he transitioned to the senior international circuit, where he quickly established himself as a prominent figure in bouldering and lead climbing.
2.1. Youth and Junior Competitions
Lee Dohyun started competing in international youth climbing events in 2016. That same year, he was selected for the national youth team. In November 2016, he participated in the World Youth Championships held in Guangzhou, China, where he placed 42nd in the lead discipline and 35th in bouldering. In November 2018, Lee competed in the 2018 Asian Junior Championships in Chongqing, China, securing a silver medal in the lead event, finishing behind Japan's Nishida Hidemasu.
2.2. Senior International Competitions
Lee Dohyun made his debut on the senior international circuit at the IFSC Climbing World Cups in 2019, steadily progressing to become a consistent medalist and a participant in major global events.
2.2.1. IFSC Climbing World Cup
Lee Dohyun earned his first World Cup medal in 2022, a silver in bouldering at the Innsbruck World Cup. He concluded the 2022 season ranked seventh overall in bouldering. In 2023, he achieved his first World Cup gold medal in bouldering at the Prague World Cup. He finished the 2023 season in second place in the overall bouldering rankings, also securing a silver medal in bouldering at the Brixen World Cup. In 2024, Lee successfully defended his gold medal in bouldering at the Prague World Cup. He further demonstrated his versatility at the Seoul World Cup, winning a gold medal in bouldering and a silver medal in lead, making him one of only three male climbers to win medals in both disciplines at the same event. He finished the 2024 season ranked sixth overall in bouldering and thirteenth overall in lead.
2.2.2. IFSC Climbing World Championships
Lee Dohyun has participated in multiple IFSC Climbing World Championships. At the Bern 2023 World Championships, he secured a bronze medal in bouldering. He also placed fourth in lead climbing and seventh in the combined bouldering and lead climbing event at the same championships. In 2019, he finished 66th in lead, 75th in bouldering, 53rd in speed, and 61st in combined at the Hachioji World Championships.
2.2.3. Olympic Games
Lee Dohyun qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris by placing first in the combined bouldering and lead climbing event at the 2024 Olympic Qualifier Series. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, he competed in the men's combined event, finishing fifteenth in the semifinals and did not advance to the finals.
3. Competition Records and Rankings
Lee Dohyun's competitive career is marked by consistent performance across various disciplines and events, as reflected in his rankings and medal counts.
3.1. IFSC Climbing World Cup Records
Lee Dohyun's performance in the IFSC Climbing World Cup series is detailed below, showing his overall rankings by discipline and his medal achievements.
| Discipline | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 47 | 15 | 36 | 13 |
| Bouldering | - | 7 | 2 | 6 |
Number of medals at the IFSC Climbing World Cup
3.1.1. Bouldering
| Season | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Total | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
3.1.2. Lead
| Season | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Total | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
3.2. IFSC Climbing World Championships Records
Lee Dohyun's participation and results in the IFSC Climbing World Championships, encompassing both youth and senior categories, are summarized below.
Youth
| Discipline | 2016 Youth B | 2017 Youth B | 2018 Youth A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 42 | 29 | 9 |
| Bouldering | 35 | 20 | 10 |
| Speed | - | 48 | - |
| Combined | - | 23 | - |
Senior
| Discipline | Hachioji 2019 | Bern 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 66 | 4 |
| Bouldering | 75 | 3 |
| Speed | 53 | - |
| Combined | 61 | 7 |
4. Personal Life
Information regarding Lee Dohyun's personal life is limited beyond details pertaining to his athletic career. His father, Lee Changhyun, is noted as a climbing instructor, which was instrumental in Lee Dohyun's early engagement with the sport.
5. External links
- [https://www.instagram.com/leedo_ss Lee Dohyun on Instagram]
- [https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/athlete/2101/dohyun-lee Lee Dohyun at the International Federation of Sport Climbing]