Young-cho Hwang

South Korea's first - official - Olympic champion. He became surprise winner at Barcelona Olympics in his only fourth marathon. Hwang had a great standing ovation in Montjuic Olympic Stadium, also Korean legend Sohn Kee-Chung (actually he was first Korean to get Olympic gold, but under the name of Son Kitei from Japan-invaded Korea) amongst them.

Hwang won Asian Games gold in Hiroshima 1994, one of the last races in his competitive career. Same year he finished fourth in prestigious Boston Marathon with 2:08:09 - best mark in that time in Korea. Ran very last race in Dong-A Marathon 1996, finished 29th.

PERSONAL BESTS
Marathon: 2:08:47, Oita 1992
Marathon: 2:08:09, Boston 1994 - Downhill course
10,000m: 29:32.01, Seoul 1991
5000m: 13:59.70, Cheongju 1990

TRIVIA
♦ Graduated from University of Korea.
♦ Appointed as honorary director of Kolon, finance giant in 1992. Five years later, he dismissed by board.
♦ Became a marathon promoter in 2000s.
♦ He had short-term political experience in Democratic Party.