CHATEAUROUX — Ban Hyo-jin, at just 16 years old, has won the gold medal in the women's 10-meter air rifle event at the Paris Olympics, setting a record as South Korea's youngest Summer Olympic gold medalist.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ban clinched the gold following a nail-biting shoot-off against China's Huang Yuting, scoring 10.4 to Huang's 10.3, after both had tied with an Olympic record of 251.8 points. This victory not only marked South Korea's fourth gold at the Paris Games but also the nation's 100th Summer Games gold medal overall. Previously, the record for the youngest South Korean gold medalist was held by archer Yun Young-sook, who won at the age of 17 at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Ban, who started shooting only three years ago, led the qualifications and maintained strong performances throughout the final rounds, although the competition remained tight against Huang. The young athletes exchanged leads several times before entering the final shoot-off, which ultimately decided the gold. The final highlighted Ban's resilience and ability to perform under pressure, securing her a historic place in South Korea's Olympic history.