Print Biography / Save as PDF 
GU Bon-Gil
NOC Republic of Korea   
GenderMen
Born 27 Apr 1989 in Daegu, KOR
Height1.82 m
Human Interest
Sport Specific Information
Handedness Right
Why this sport? He was playing football with his friends when he was encouraged to take up the sport by a fencing coach at his middle school. He was included in the school's sabre team because it was short of members.
General Interest
Awards and honours He received the 2023 Outstanding Athlete Award from the Korean Fencing Federation. (Instagram profile, 05 May 2024)

He and swimmer Kim Seo-Yeong were named flag bearers for the Republic of Korea for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China. (news1.kr, 12 Sep 2023)

In 2020 he was inducted into the International Fencing Federation [FIE] Hall of Fame. (Instagram profile, 24 Sep 2020; usafencing.org, 18 Sep 2020)

In 2019 he was presented with the Cheongryong [Blue Dragon] Medal, the highest Order of Sport Merit in the Republic of Korea. (sports.chosun.com, 15 Oct 2019)

He was flag bearer for the Republic of Korea at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (news.joins.com, 20 Jul 2016)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport? He began fencing in 2002 in Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete
Languages Korean
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team Korea Sports Promotion Foundation: Jeonnam, KOR
Further Personal Information
Higher education Physical Education - Dong-Eui University: Busan, KOR
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach Won Woo-Young [national], KOR
Further Personal Information
Residence Seoul, KOR
General Interest
Other information FURTHER EDUCATION
He has studied for a postgraduate degree at Kookmin University Graduate School of Sports Industry in Seoul, Republic of Korea. (cst.kookmin.ac.kr, 27 Jul 2021; UniK Naver blog, 04 Dec 2018)
Hobbies Golf, playing video games. (xportsnews.com, 09 Oct 2021; Instagram profile, 02 Feb 2020; isplus.live.joins.com, 25 Apr 2019)
Further Personal Information
Family Wife Park Eun-Joo, one son [2023]
General Interest
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs "I don't eat food on the day of a competition and avoid water as much as possible because it feels like my body is getting heavier." (hankookilbo.com, 03 Jan 2020)
Sporting philosophy / motto "My style is 80% attack and 20% defence." (sports.news.naver.com, 14 May 2019)
Milestones He was a member of the team that won the Republic of Korea's first Olympic gold medal in a fencing team event when he joined Kim Jung-Hwan, Oh Eun-Seok, and Won Woo-Young to claim victory in men's team sabre at the 2012 Games in London. (SportsDeskOnline, 10 May 2021)
Ambitions To win a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (yna.co.kr, 06 May 2024)

Major Results
Year Rank Event Venue
Olympic Games
2020 1 Team Sabre Tokyo, Japan
2012 1 Team Sabre London, England
World Championships
2023 2 Team Sabre Milan, Italy
2022 1 Team Sabre Cairo, Egypt
2019 1 Team Sabre Budapest, Hungary
2018 1 Team Sabre Wuxi, China
2018 5 Individual Sabre Wuxi, China
2017 1 Team Sabre Leipzig, Germany
2017 2 Individual Sabre Leipzig, Germany
2015 Quarterfinal Individual Sabre Moscow, Russia
2014 2 Individual Sabre Kazan, Russia
2014 2 Team Sabre Kazan, Russia
2011 3 Individual Sabre Catania, Italy
2010 8 Team Sabre Paris, France
Asian Championships
2024 1 Team Sabre Kuwait City, Kuwait
2023 1 Team Sabre Wuxi, China
2022 1 Individual Sabre Seoul, Republic of Korea
2022 1 Team Sabre Seoul, Republic of Korea
2019 1 Team Sabre Tokyo, Japan
2019 7 Individual Sabre Tokyo, Japan
2018 1 Individual Sabre Bangkok, Thailand
2018 3 Team Sabre Bangkok, Thailand
2017 1 Individual Sabre Hong Kong, China
2017 1 Team Sabre Hong Kong, China
2016 5 Individual Sabre Wuxi, China
2015 1 Team Sabre Singapore, Singapore
2015 2 Individual Sabre Singapore, Singapore
2014 1 Individual Sabre Suwon, Republic of Korea
2013 1 Individual Sabre Shanghai, China
2012 1 Individual Sabre Wakayama, Japan
2011 1 Team Sabre Seoul, Republic of Korea
2011 2 Individual Sabre Seoul, Republic of Korea
2010 2 Team Sabre Seoul, Republic of Korea