1. Overview
Lee Hye-jin (이혜진i.ɦje.dʑinKorean), born on January 23, 1992, is a prominent South Korean track cyclist who has significantly contributed to the sport's development in her country. Her career is marked by multiple Olympic participations, groundbreaking achievements at the World Championships, and numerous medals in prestigious international and continental competitions. Lee became the first South Korean cyclist to win an international gold medal at the 2010 Junior World Championships and later achieved a historic silver medal at the 2020 World Championships in Keirin, subsequently rising to world number one in the discipline. She has also set and continuously broken national records in the 500m Time Trial and secured multiple medals at the Asian Games and Asian Track Cycling Championships, solidifying her status as a leading figure in South Korean cycling.
2. Early Life and Education
Lee Hye-jin was born on January 23, 1992. She completed her early education at Taejeong Middle School and Yeoncheon High School in South Korea, where she began to develop her skills in track cycling.
3. Career
Lee Hye-jin's professional cycling career spans over a decade, marked by consistent performance and groundbreaking achievements across various competitive platforms, from junior events to the Olympic stage.
3.1. Junior Career and Early Achievements
Lee Hye-jin's cycling career began with remarkable success in her junior years. In 2010, she participated in the UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships held in Montichiari, Italy. There, she achieved a significant milestone by winning a gold medal
in the 500m Sprint event, recording a time of 35.47 seconds. This victory was particularly historic as it marked South Korea's first-ever international gold medal in cycling. Her outstanding performance earned her the prestigious 2010 Cycling Award from the Korea Cycling Federation at their general assembly on January 21, 2011.
3.2. Olympic Participation
Lee Hye-jin has represented South Korea in multiple Olympic Games, showcasing her prowess on the world's biggest stage.
She made her Olympic debut at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where she competed in the women's sprint, women's keirin, and women's team sprint events.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Lee competed in the women's keirin. She successfully qualified for the event after her world ranking rose to fourth place. Aiming for South Korea's first Olympic medal in keirin, she unfortunately faced an obstacle in the semi-finals when a leading Colombian rider, Martha Bayona, crashed, affecting Lee's performance and preventing her from advancing to the final. She ultimately finished eighth in the event.
Lee also secured qualification for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she was set to compete in the women's keirin and women's sprint. However, the Games were postponed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a disappointment for Lee, who had high expectations for a medal. Her planned training camp in Switzerland was also canceled due to the pandemic.
3.3. World Championships and World Cup
Lee Hye-jin has achieved significant success in the UCI Track Cycling World Championships and UCI Track Cycling World Cup series, establishing herself as a top international competitor.
At the 2016 World Championships, she finished sixth in the keirin event. In the 2020 World Championships, Lee made history by winning a silver medal
in the women's keirin, which was the best result ever achieved by a South Korean cyclist in the event. Following this remarkable performance, she ascended to the world number one ranking in women's keirin.
In the 2017-18 World Cup season, Lee secured a bronze medal
in the team sprint at the third round in Milton, Canada, and another bronze medal
in the sprint event at the fourth round in Santiago, Chile. She continued her strong performance in the 2018-19 World Cup season, earning a silver medal
in the sprint event.
The 2019-20 World Cup season was particularly successful for Lee. She won a silver medal
in keirin at the first round in Minsk. She then made history by winning a gold medal
in keirin at the third round in Hong Kong, becoming the first South Korean cyclist to achieve a World Cup gold. She followed this up with another gold medal
at the fourth round in Cambridge, New Zealand, marking her first consecutive World Cup gold medals.
3.4. Asian Games and Continental Championships
Lee Hye-jin has been a consistent medalist at major regional competitions, including the Asian Games and Asian Track Cycling Championships.
At the 2014 Asian Track Cycling Championships, she earned two silver medals
: one in the 500m Time Trial and another in the Team Sprint, partnering with Kim Won-gyeong. Later that year, at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, she won a silver medal
in the Team Sprint, again alongside Kim Won-gyeong.
In the 2015 Asian Track Cycling Championships, Lee secured a gold medal
in the Team Sprint with Choi Seul-gi and a silver medal
in the keirin event. She added another silver medal
in the Team Sprint at the 2016 Asian Track Cycling Championships, competing with Cho Sun-young.
The 2017 Asian Track Cycling Championships saw Lee win a gold medal
in the Team Sprint with Kim Won-gyeong and a silver medal
in the keirin.
At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Lee competed in the Team Sprint with Kim Won-gyeong. They secured a bronze medal
by defeating Japan in the bronze medal match with a time of 33.476 seconds. The following day, she advanced to the final of the keirin event by winning her heat. In the final, she narrowly missed the gold medal by just 0.024 seconds, earning a silver medal
.
She continued her medal haul at the 2019 Asian Track Cycling Championships, where she claimed a bronze medal
in the sprint event. In the 2020 Asian Track Cycling Championships, she also won a bronze medal
in the keirin.
Most recently, at the 2022 Asian Games (held in 2023 due to postponement) in Hangzhou, China, Lee was part of the women's sprint team that won a silver medal
, alongside Hwang Hyeon-seo, Kim Ha-eun, and Cho Sun-young.
4. Personal Best Records
Lee Hye-jin has set multiple national records throughout her career, particularly in the 500m Time Trial.
| Event | Record | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500m Time Trial | 33.637 seconds | November 2, 2017 | Jincheon County, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea | National Record |
Her 500m Time Trial record of 33.637 seconds set in Jincheon, South Korea, on November 2, 2017, improved upon her previous national record of 34.165 seconds set on May 16, 2017.
5. Awards and Recognition
Lee Hye-jin has received several awards and recognitions for her outstanding achievements in cycling.
- 2010 Cycling Award**: Awarded by the Korea Cycling Federation for her breakthrough performance at the Junior World Championships.
- National Sports Festival**: Lee demonstrated remarkable dominance at the National Sports Festival in the 500m Time Trial event, achieving six consecutive victories in 2017, extending her winning streak to seven consecutive titles in 2018 with a time of 34.687 seconds, and further to eight consecutive titles in 2019 with a time of 34.571 seconds.
- MBN Women's Sports Award March MVP**: In April 2020, she was selected as the Most Valuable Player for March by the MBN Women's Sports Award, recognizing her exceptional performance, particularly her silver medal at the 2020 World Championships and her rise to world number one.
6. Evaluation and Impact
Lee Hye-jin's career has had a profound impact on the development and profile of track cycling in South Korea. Her gold medal at the 2010 Junior World Championships was a historic first for the nation in an international cycling competition, inspiring a new generation of athletes. She continued to break barriers, notably with her silver medal at the 2020 World Championships in keirin, which was the best result ever achieved by a Korean cyclist at the event, and her subsequent ascent to the world number one ranking. These achievements not only brought international recognition to South Korean cycling but also showcased the potential for the sport within the country. Her consistent performance at the Olympics, World Cups, Asian Games, and Asian Championships, along with her numerous national records, have solidified her legacy as one of South Korea's most accomplished track cyclists. Lee Hye-jin serves as an inspirational figure, demonstrating dedication, resilience, and excellence in her sport.