First Korean, 12th in World in Hall of Fame
Completed race in Atacama Desert (Chile) in March / Gobi Desert (China) in June / Sahara Desert (Egypt) in October, and the Antarctica in November
[December 4, 2012]
Kim, Sang-hyeon (24), a senior at the YU Department of Urban Planning and Engineering completed the world's 4 extreme marathons spanning across a 1,000km long course in one calendar year for the first time as a Korean, completing the '4 Deserts Grand Slam'.
Kim, Sang-hyeon, who achieved the 'World's 4 Extreme Marathons Grand Slam', completed the last Antarctica race crossing the finish line and holds up the Korean flag. Mr. Kim began his extreme race with the goal of conquering the world's 4 Deserts series earlier this year. He completed the Atacama Crossing in March (Chile), Gobi March in June (China) and the Sahara Race in October (Egypt). And finally, on December 3, he completed the Last Desert (Antarctica) marathon.
In result, Kim became the 8th Korean to achieve the '4 Deserts Grand Slam' in the world's 4 extreme marathons, and the first Korean and 12th in the world to be entered in the 'Hall of Fame' for completing all of the races within a year.
The desert marathon organized by the US extreme racing company, 'Racing The Planet', is a seven day race where the athletes carry food, sleeping bags and clothes and run about 40km a day for a total of 250km. The Last Desert Race (Antarctica) that was from November 22 to December 3 is the most difficult race because the runners have to withstand the infamous cold, and only challengers who completed races in Chile, China and Egypt are given the opportunity to compete in this race.
"When I took a boat heading to the Antarctica for the race last month, the waves were so high that it felt like the race had already started. People told me that the Antarctica would be the easiest race, but because the ultraviolet rays that were nothing compared to the desert, my face burned red. Not only was it cold to the bone, but whenever I wanted to rest, I could not because my body temperature would drop if my sweat dried. But still, despite the blizzards, I did my best to the finish line."
He added, "There were times in the middle of the race where I wanted to quit, but I could not bring myself to quit when I thought about the people who supported and encouraged me. I did not complete the extreme marathons Grand Slam alone. I would like to share this honor with everyone who rooted me on."
The Last Desert Race (Antarctica) gave him another gift. He became true friends with the 55 participants from 28 countries around the world, overcoming nationality, age and gender. He said that he was happy just to be able to achieve his dream with others and said that through his challenge at the world's 4 extreme marathons, he gained not 'records', but 'people'.
"While competing in the race, I met people from corporate CEOs to lawn mowers. The valuable experience to talk with and share thoughts with diverse people through this challenge, especially for me as an ordinary student, is not something a person can experience by studying abroad or sitting in a library. In particular, the 'Born to Run' team from Australia collected money for children with polio while competing in the desert marathons. This helped me dream a bigger dream to lead not a life where I do well alone, but a life where I live well with others. I would like to thank them for helping me realize this."
He now has another dream. He wants to become a true mentor for youths who make challenges. He said with a smile, "I have another dream of publishing my story in a book containing my college life for the past three years and my records from the desert marathon. I want to achieve one dream at a time and fill my book of 'life' with greater things."
