Yun-jong Won, a South Korean bobsleigh pilot, retired from competition as an Olympic silver medalist and now faces the challenge of becoming the voice of his fellow athletes. Born in Seoul in 1985, Won competed in three Winter Olympic Games (Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, and Beijing 2022). At PyeongChang 2018, he was part of the South Korean team that achieved a historic silver medal in the four-man event, the first Olympic podium for South Korea and for all of Asia in the discipline. This achievement, along with strong performances in World Cups (overall world champion in the 2015–16 two-man season), cemented his reputation as a leading figure in South Korean Olympic sport.

After hanging up the sled following Beijing 2022, Won has remained closely connected to the Olympic Movement with a spirit of service. In February 2026, he was elected to the Athletes’ Commission of the IOC during the Milano-Cortina Games, becoming the first South Korean winter sports athlete to join the body. Upon learning of his election, Won expressed gratitude and commitment: “I am very happy that the effort I put into getting to know and connecting with athletes has paid off.” For him, being a representative is not an honorary title but a responsibility to listen and work for athletes, as he summarized in his message after the election.

International sporting career

Won Yun-jong rose to global prominence with his Olympic medal in 2018. At the Sochi 2014 Games, he debuted without reaching the podium (18th in two-man and 20th in four-man). Four years later, on home soil, he achieved a historic result: sixth place in two-man (an Asian continental record) and—together with Seo Young-woo, Kim Dong-hyun, and Jun Jung-lin—silver in four-man. That performance in PyeongChang was described as “a historic milestone” for Korea and Asia, establishing Won as one of the key figures in Asian bobsleigh.

At Beijing 2022, Won competed in his third and final Olympic Games. There, his team finished 18th in the four-man event. Although he did not return to the podium, his experience helped Korea place two teams within the top 20. His sporting career concluded after those Games with an Olympic medal and the legacy of having elevated the level of sliding sports in his country. The success and experience gained across dozens of international competitions now underpin the authority with which Won assumes his new representative role.

Leadership on and off the track

Yun-jong Won’s journey in bobsleigh extended beyond sport into leadership. After retiring, he remained deeply involved in the Korean Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, where he was elected vice president. In that role, he led initiatives for athlete welfare and development, chaired the Performance Improvement Committee, and worked to build support systems within the country. He also holds a master’s degree in physical education and has served as a development coach for the IBSF, sharing his experience with the next generation. In 2024, he was selected as a role model for athletes at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, and even chaired the athletes’ commission for that event. In this way, Won has built a strong global network, combining his profile as a former athlete with that of a manager and mentor.

At the same time, Won plays an active role in Olympic committees. In addition to the IOC Athletes’ Commission, he has served on the IBSF Athletes’ Commission and that of the Korean NOC. These roles have enabled him to advocate for more inclusive and supportive sports systems and to establish himself as a bridge between athletes and sports leaders. His vision goes beyond the personal: as he has said, he has learned “to fall and rise on the ice, not only as an athlete but as a person,” and now seeks to give back to the sporting community everything he has learned. This combination of international experience, academic training, and personal dedication explains why his peers trust him to represent their interests globally.

Athletes’ voice and future impact

Upon taking his seat on the Athletes’ Commission, Yun-jong Won emphasized that “athletes must always be part of decision-making,” and that his mission is to act as a bridge between them and the IOC. In his own words: “Now it is my turn to give back. As a candidate for the Athletes’ Commission, I commit to building a movement where every athlete can dream without limits, compete on equal terms, and grow together, never in isolation.” His message is clear: he will work to represent and amplify the voices of athletes worldwide with integrity and determination.

Reflecting this commitment, Won considers initiatives such as career transition support for retired athletes and direct engagement with the athlete community as key priorities. He emphasizes the importance of “meeting people face to face” and aims to connect personally with as many athletes as possible to understand their concerns and bring them to the IOC. Backed by his historic medal, leadership experience, and consistent message of inclusion, Yun-jong Won begins this new chapter determined to shape a more athlete-centered future.