'Iron Man' Yoon Sung-bin Wins First Gold Medal of the Season... Jumps to 4th in World Rankings

Skeleton World Cup competitor Yoon Sung-bin leaving the starting line
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Sung-yeol] Yoon Sung-bin (26, world ranking 4th), the 'Iron Man' of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, won his first gold medal of the season.

On the 5th, Yoon Sung-bin clinched victory at the 2019-20 International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup 3rd round held in Winterberg, Germany, with a combined time of 1 minute 52.95 seconds in the 1st and 2nd runs. He edged out Alexander Gassner (32, Germany), who finished second with a total time of 1 minute 53.00 seconds, by 0.05 seconds.

This season's world number one Axel Jungk (30, Germany) finished with a time of 1 minute 53.03 seconds, 0.08 seconds behind Yoon, earning the bronze medal.

Yoon Sung-bin had placed 7th and 6th respectively in the 1st and 2nd World Cup rounds held in Lake Placid, USA, on the 9th and 14th of last month. However, welcoming the new year, Yoon overcame his slump and claimed his first victory of the season. This marked his 10th career gold medal, coming 11 months after the 9th round of last season.

With this win, Yoon Sung-bin's World Cup ranking rose two places from 6th to 4th.

Meanwhile, the 4th World Cup round is scheduled to take place on the 10th in La Plagne, France.