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INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE
a male Para ice hockey player makes a save

Man Gyun Yu

Republic of Korea's flag
Korea
Para Ice Hockey
1

Man-Gyun Yu picked up Para ice hockey late at 32-years-old but he quickly showed his puck-stopping abilities. He helped South Korea reach the bronze medal match against Italy, and the nation made history by winning their first Paralympic medal in the sport at their home PyeongChang 2018 Games.

In the bronze medal game at the 2017 World Championships A-Pool on home ice, the goalkeeper made 12 saves from 14 shots on goal; helping his team defeat Norway 3-2 and giving the host nation plenty to look forward to at their home Paralympic Winter Games.

Yu helped South Korea capture their first medal at a World Championships or Paralympic Games with the silver. He finished the Championships with 50 saves, recording an 88 per cent save percentage.

A former wheelchair basketball player, Yu found Para ice hockey through pure curiosity and the urge to try a winter sport.

Biography

Impairment information

Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries
Origin of Impairment
Acquired

Further personal information

Family
Wife Lee Tae-Hyun, daughter Yun-Seo, son Hyun-Jin
Occupation
Athlete
Languages
Korean
Higher education
Health and Welfare Studies - Hallym Polytechnic University: Chuncheon, KOR

Sport specific information

When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up the sport at age 32 at Tancheon Sports Complex in the Republic of Korea. He decided to become a goaltender in 2010.
Why this sport?
"I liked the body checks and the powerful shooting."
Club / Team
Gangwon Provincial Office: Chuncheon, KOR
Name of coach
Seo Kwang-Suk [club], KOR; Park Hyun-Wook [national], KOR
Preferred position / style / stance / technique
Goaltender

General interest

Memorable sporting achievement
Winning a silver medal at the 2012 World Championships A-Pool in Hamar, Norway, and claiming bronze at the 2017 World Championships A-Pool in Gangneung, Republic of Korea. (Athlete, 10 Mar 2018)
Injuries
In October 2016 he underwent neck surgery. (Athlete, 11 Dec 2017)
Other sports
He has competed in wheelchair basketball and Para athletics at national level in the Republic of Korea. He won gold in javelin throw, shot put and discus at the 2018 National Para Games. (38thnational.koreanpc.kr, 28 Oct 2018; paralympic.org, 23 Jan 2014; 35thnational.koreanpc.kr, 2014)
Impairment
In 1993 he underwent a back operation that resulted in nerve damage. (Athlete, 10 Mar 2018; kimpd.com, 15 Jan 2012)
Other information
SUSPENSION
In September 2019 the International Paralympic Committee [IPC] announced that he had been suspended for six months after returning an adverse analytical finding for hydrochlorothiazide in a urine sample provided while competing at the 2019 World Championships A-Pool in Ostrava, Czech Republic, in April that year. His suspension was backdated from 30 April 2019 until 29 October 2019. As a result of the suspension he was stripped of the bronze medal he claimed with the Korean team at the tournament. (paralympic.org, 15 Sep 2019)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as a member of the disciplinary committee of the Gangwon Province Para Sports Association in the Republic of Korea. (gwsad.or.kr, 06 Sep 2017)

Results

Unit Date Rank
Paralympic Winter Games 2014 (Sochi, Russia)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Mixed Group B 2014-03-08 2
Mixed Group B 2014-03-09 3
Mixed Group B 2014-03-11 5
Mixed Group B - Standings 2014-03-11 4
Mixed Classification 5-6 2014-03-12 202
Mixed Classification 7-8 2014-03-14 102
Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games (Pyeongchang, South Korea)
Event Medal Unit Date Rank
Mixed Tournament Group B 2018-03-10 1
Mixed Tournament Group B 2018-03-11 3
Mixed Tournament Group B 2018-03-13 5
Mixed Tournament Group B - Standings 2018-03-13 2
Mixed Tournament Semifinal 2018-03-15 1
Mixed Tournament Bronze Medal Match 2018-03-17 1

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