Yu Bin Lee

Yu Bin Lee was born on April 23, 2001, in Seoul, South Korea. She began her short track speed skating career in 2008 in Goyang, Republic of Korea, encouraged by her brother Lee Jun-Seo. Initially, she believed she would pursue figure skating but transitioned to short track. Her early career was marked by significant challenges, including fracturing her lower spine in 2016. Despite these setbacks, Lee demonstrated resilience and continued to advance in her sport, attending Yonsei University in Seoul.

Lee quickly rose through the ranks, making her Olympic debut at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, where she earned a gold medal in the 3000m relay. This achievement was a major milestone, cementing her status as a top athlete. Following this, she also secured a gold medal in the 3000m relay at the 2018 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Montreal. She was honored with the Clean Award at the 2018 Coca-Cola Athletics Awards alongside her 3000m relay teammates. Her career continued with participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where she earned a silver medal in the 3000m relay. During this period, she continued to compete in individual events, placing 6th in the Women’s 1500m and Women’s 1000m at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Lee has maintained her athletic pursuits while also studying, balancing her profession as a student with her demanding training schedule.

Throughout her career, Yu Bin Lee has faced and overcome injuries, such as a dislocated left shoulder in May 2021, which she sustained during national selection trials but continued to compete, securing her spot on the relay team. Her sporting philosophy, “Whatever will be, will be,” reflects her pragmatic approach to competition and life. She looks up to Korean short track skaters Sung Si-Bak, Park Seung-Hi, and Shim Suk-Hee, and credits her parents as the most influential people in her career. Her journey highlights a commitment to excellence and perseverance in elite sports.