Won Yoon-jong, Kim Chang-min, Handasom, Min Yura, Gangwon Youth Olympic ‘role model athletes’

The IOC announced on its website on Thursday the 17 role model athletes who will serve as mentors for national youth athletes at the Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games next year.

Won Yun-jong, Kim Chang-min, Min Yura and Handasom were selected to represent South Korea.

The IOC selected the Role Model Athletes from a pool of Winter Olympic champions, medalists and Winter Games participants.

The Role Model Athlete program was introduced in 2010 with the launch of the Youth Olympic Games as a way for adult Olympians to pass on their Olympic experience and knowledge to future Olympic stars.

PyeongChang 2018 bobsled silver medalists Won Yunjong, Kim Changmin and Min Yura were confirmed as the final Role Model Athletes today after being named to the initial list of Role Model Athletes announced last month.

Handasom, who competed at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, is the newest addition.

“It’s a great honor,” Won told the IOC, “and it will be a special experience for me to host the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games in PyeongChang, where I won a silver medal in the four-man bobsleigh. I can’t wait to share my advice with young athletes,” he said.

Kim Magnus (NOR), who won the cross-country gold medal at the 2016 Lillehammer Winter Youth Olympic Games and represented South Korea at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, will also visit Gangwon Province as a role model athlete.

The Gangwon 2024 Games, the first Winter Youth Olympic Games to be held in Asia, will kick off on Jan. 19 and run through Feb. 1 in Gangneung, Pyeongchang, Jeongseon and Hwangeong. 슬롯게이밍