Jeong Hyun-ki

Jeong Hyun-Ki

OGM, POFB

Personal information
Native name	정현기
Citizenship	Eirian
Born	17 November 1997
Education	B3-P [B.A.]
Alma mater	Kaulia University
Sport
Country	Eiria
Sport	Speed Skating
Medal record Men's Speed Skating Representing Eiria Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 1 1 1 Total 1 1 1 Olympic Games New Riga 2021 1500 Meter New Riga 2021 5000 Meter Hanshui 2023 Team Pursuit

Jeong Hyun-ki OGM is an Eirian Professional Speed Skater, one of the most accomplished speed skaters in Eirian History. He won two medals(a gold and a silver) at the 2021 New Riga Olympic Games, becoming the most successful Eirian athlete at those games, as well as the closing ceremony flagbearer.

Early Life

Jeong Hyun-Ki was born to an ethnically Fellsian father, Jeong Dae-Hyun, and an Eirian mother, Amalija Kaltē. His paternal grandparents were naturalized immigrants from High Fells who settled in Jurmala. His family soon moved to eastern Monter Province, where six year old Hyun-Ki took up ice skating. He won several junior medals in his secondary school years (including two gold medals at the Monter Provincial Championship and a silver member from the National Junior Speed Skating Cup).

Career

After graduating secondary school, Jeong enrolled in Kaulia University, a liberal arts school in western Geminus Province. While there, he spearheaded the school's Speed Skating team, leading them to team pursuit victory (as well as the top of the medal count) at two straight University Championships. During his junior year, he earned silver medals in the 1500M and 5000M events at the Eirian National Trials, gaining the right to represent the nation in national competition. He did not compete in the 2019 Speed Skating season, taking time off to complete a degree in international politics.

2021 Olympiad

Three years after his first Eirian National medals, Jeong Hyun-Ki placed first in his two signature events (1500M and 5000M) at the first ever Eirian Speed Skating Olympic Trials, earning olympic berths in both events. He expressed disappointment that he and his team pursuit team members gained a surprising third in an upset, but still maintained an optimistic outlook. "It is what it is, and I give my respect to my fellow skaters for their victory. Now, it is time to show both myself and my country to the world."

On the final day of the New Riga Olympiad, Jeong won the first ever Olympic title in the Men's 1500M, as well as a silver in the 5000M. This impressive single-day performance resulted in him being elected closing ceremony flag bearer for Eiria. As Eiria was the host nation, this would result in him leading the parade around the Olympic Flame. He later reflected on this during an interview with the Geminus Journal. "It was such a surreal experience, feeling the eyes of everyone in the stadium on me. I was so stunned that I almost stopped the flag! But the best part was seeing my parents and grandparents afterward. They almost suffocated me in their hugs."

2023 Olympiad

Due to his previous Olympics performance and his friendly public image, Jeong was elected to be the male Eirian flag bearer at the 2023 Olympiad in Hanshui, Laeral. During their initial entrance into the parade, the Eirian delegation burst into a traditional work song, causing the flag bearers to wave the flag to the beat. During this vigorous task, Jeong's čepu hat flew off and onto the track. Despite the hat quickly being replaced by a fellow athlete, Eirian social media was quick to poke fun at the incident, calling it "The Čepu Problem."

Jeong Hyun-Ki's performance in Hanshui was a bit more lack-luster than in New Riga, not medaling in individual events and losing his Olympics Record to Grundhavish skater Povl Erikson. Still, alongside teammates Lukas Auģustin and Levs Karklin, he defeated the Haesanite Team Pursuit team in a bronze medal matchup, earning the last medal that he needed for a full set. He was congratulatory to his international competitor, even reportedly offering to buy Povl Erikson a drink for beating his record.