(Nagoya = Yonhap News) Reporter Myeong-eon Oh = This is already his third Asian Games performance. Nam Dong-heon (37), a veteran of the national equestrian team, was more cautious than excited before leaving the country.
At the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, where he first participated, he suffered from self-blame that Korea had to settle for a silver medal instead of a gold medal due to his lack of skills, and at the second Hangzhou Games in 2022, he had the misfortune of having to return his right to participate due to a horse injury just before the opening.
So, even ahead of the third stage, the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, he only cautiously promised in an interview with Yonhap News, "I honestly cannot guarantee a medal. However, I will do my best at every moment."
However, Nam Dong-heon perfectly and exceeded his promise and brilliantly revived the pride of Korean equestrianism.
Nam Dong-heon won the silver medal in the team event at this competition, and also participated in the finals of the individual equestrian dressage event held at the Tokyo Equestrian Park in Japan on the 27th with his horse 'Leonidas', and proudly won the gold medal with a final score of 75.190 points.
After completing the award ceremony, Nam Dong-heon told Yonhap News, "I had a painful experience in the past, so this time I deliberately tried to empty my mind and remain calm," and added, "Rather, I gradually gained confidence as I competed."
He said, "It is true that before I came here, I was nervous after only looking at the report cards of athletes from other countries," but "when I actually came to the site and encountered it in person, I thought, 'It's worth a try.' I was confident that I could win a medal as long as I didn't make any big mistakes."
With Nam Dong-heon's win, Korean equestrianism regained its hegemony in the individual dressage competition 12 years after the 2014 Incheon Games.
Equestrian dressage, also known as βballet on a horse,β is a sport in which a rider gives instructions to a horse in an arena (horse arena) and performs set movements such as walking and jumping.
As the judges determine rankings by evaluating stride length, rhythm, and artistry, the delicate communication between rider and horse is essential.
Nam Dong-heon, who always supports Leonidas like a son and sometimes like a 'master', explained, "Horses are also smart and know that they should compete. They listen to the heartbeat of a person and understand the jockey's condition."
He continued, βLeonidas, who was a bit distracted at first, could feel that he was extremely focused from day one as soon as he came to the stadium. Even in the finals, he communicated by constantly muttering in a low voice, βYou can do it,β βLetβs focus,β and βYou have to be in front,β throughout the game.β
The process of Nam Dong-heon meeting Leonidas is also steeped in twists and turns.
After saying goodbye to his beloved horse 'First Edition' due to the misfortune of the Hangzhou competition, he went on three trips to Europe to find a new partner.
I stayed for a week each time and rode over 100 horses.
Considering the usual practice of going to Europe and riding about 30 horses for about 10 days before making a decision, this means selling three times as much.
Among them, Leonidas felt different. Although he was 7 years old and undertrained for competition use, Nam Dong-heon taught him, encouraged him, and comforted him from the beginning, raising him into the masterful horse he is today.
Nam Dong-heon smiled brightly, saying, βEven though this is my first time competing in a competition like this, I think I should give him plenty of delicious snacks because he did so well. But he usually eats well too.β
Eight years ago, as the younger brother of the national team, he collaborated to win a silver medal in the team event. Now, as the most reliable eldest brother leading Si-Woo Kim, Myung-Seok Lee, and Hyun-Woo Do, he once again won a silver medal in the team event.
Furthermore, he carried the momentum of taking first place in the first round of the team and individual competitions all the way to the finals, breaking a 12-year-old gold vein in the individual competition.
Although he achieved a brilliant result that completely erased the humiliation of 'no medals' in the previous competition, Nam Dong-heon's eyes are already turned to the future of Korean equestrianism.
I sincerely hoped that Korean equestrianism, which had fallen into a deep recession after being hit directly by the 'Choi Soon-sil corruption scandal', would bounce back with this win.
Nam Dong-heon said, "When I started horseback riding, the situation was better than it is now, but now younger juniors started exercising in a recession. As a senior, I always felt sorry for such an environment. I hope that the situation in the equestrian world will gradually improve with this result. I want to become a senior who creates an environment where juniors can ride horses more comfortably."
He said, βAll of my horse riding friends are very gentle and kind. I hope that they will continue their careers as athletes with more warm interest.β
