Viktor An facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Viktor An

Ahn in 2016
Personal information
Birth name	Ahn Hyun-soo Hangul: 안현수
Born	(1985-11-23) November 23, 1985 (age 39) Seoul, South Korea
Height	1.70 m
Weight	65 kg
Spouse(s)	Woo Nari ​ (m. 2014)​
Sport
Country	South Korea (until 2011)  Russia (since 2011)
Sport	Short track speed skating
Retired	April 27, 2020
Achievements and titles
World finals	World Championship 2014 Overall 2007 Overall 2006 Overall 2005 Overall 2004 Overall 2003 Overall World Cup 2006 Overall 2004 Overall
Personal best(s)	500 m: 39.961 (2019) 1000 m: 1:23.487 (2013) 1500 m: 2:10.639 (2003, Former WR) 3000 m: 4:32.646 (2003, Former WR)
Medal record Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 6 0 2 World Championships 20 10 5 World Team Championships 2 3 1 European Championships 8 6 2 World Junior Championships 4 0 1 Winter Universiade 3 0 1 Asian Games 5 1 0 Total 48 20 12 Representing  Russia Olympic Games Gold 2014 Sochi 500 m Gold 2014 Sochi 1000 m Gold 2014 Sochi 5000 m relay Bronze 2014 Sochi 1500 m World Championships Gold 2014 Montreal Overall Gold 2014 Montreal 1000 m Silver 2013 Debrecen 500 m Silver 2013 Debrecen 5000 m relay Bronze 2014 Montreal 3000 m Bronze 2017 Rotterdam 3000 m European Championships Gold 2013 Malmö 5000 m relay Gold 2014 Debrecen Overall Gold 2014 Debrecen 500 m Gold 2014 Debrecen 1000 m Gold 2014 Debrecen 3000 m Gold 2014 Debrecen 5000 m relay Gold 2015 Dordrecht 500 m Gold 2015 Dordrecht 5000 m relay Silver 2013 Malmö 1000m Silver 2015 Dordrecht Overall Silver 2015 Dordrecht 3000 m Silver 2017 Turin 5000 m relay Silver 2018 Dresden 500 m Silver 2018 Dresden 5000 m relay Bronze 2013 Malmö 500 m Bronze 2017 Turin 500 m Representing  South Korea Olympic Games Gold 2006 Turin 1000 m Gold 2006 Turin 1500 m Gold 2006 Turin 5000 m relay Bronze 2006 Turin 500 m World Championships Gold 2002 Montreal 5000 m relay Gold 2003 Warsaw Overall Gold 2003 Warsaw 1500 m Gold 2003 Warsaw 3000 m Gold 2003 Warsaw 5000 m relay Gold 2004 Gothenburg Overall Gold 2004 Gothenburg 1000 m Gold 2004 Gothenburg 1500 m Gold 2004 Gothenburg 3000 m Gold 2004 Gothenburg 5000 m relay Gold 2005 Beijing Overall Gold 2005 Beijing 1500 m Gold 2006 Minneapolis Overall Gold 2006 Minneapolis 1000 m Gold 2006 Minneapolis 1500 m Gold 2007 Milan Overall Gold 2007 Milan 1000 m Gold 2007 Milan 5000 m relay Silver 2002 Montreal Overall Silver 2002 Montreal 1000 m Silver 2002 Montreal 3000 m Silver 2003 Warsaw 1000 m Silver 2005 Beijing 1000 m Silver 2005 Beijing 3000 m Silver 2005 Beijing 5000 m relay Silver 2007 Milan 3000 m Bronze 2005 Beijing 500 m Bronze 2007 Milan 500 m Bronze 2007 Milan 1500 m World Team Championships Gold 2004 St. Petersburg Team Gold 2006 Montréal Team Silver 2003 Sofia Team Silver 2005 Chuncheon Team Silver 2007 Budapest Team Bronze 2002 Milwaukee Team World Junior Championships Gold 2002 Chuncheon Overall Gold 2002 Chuncheon 1000 m Gold 2002 Chuncheon 1500 m Gold 2002 Chuncheon 2000 m relay Bronze 2002 Chuncheon 1500 m S.F. Winter Universiade Gold 2005 Innsbruck 1500 m Gold 2005 Innsbruck 3000 m Gold 2005 Innsbruck 5000 m relay Bronze 2005 Innsbruck 1000 m Asian Winter Games Gold 2003 Aomori 1000 m Gold 2003 Aomori 1500 m Gold 2003 Aomori 5000 m relay Gold 2007 Changchun 1000 m Gold 2007 Changchun 5000 m relay Silver 2007 Changchun 1500 m

Viktor An (Russian: Виктор Ан), born Ahn Hyun-soo (Korean: 안현수) on November 23, 1985, is a famous short-track speed skater. He was born in South Korea and later became a Russian citizen. He is now a retired skater and coach.

Viktor An is known as one of the greatest short track speed skaters ever. He has won eight Olympic medals, including six gold and two bronze. He is the only short track skater to win gold in every distance at the Olympics. He also won a medal in every distance at one Olympic Games. He won three gold medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics and three more at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

He has also won six overall World Championship titles (from 2003 to 2007, and in 2014). He won the World Cup twice (2003–04, 2005–06) and was the 2014 European champion. He holds the record for the most overall World Championship titles. He is also the only male short track skater to win five World titles in a row.

In 2008, Ahn had a serious knee injury. He could not recover in time for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. His South Korean team also closed down in 2010. To continue his Olympic dream, Ahn became a Russian citizen in 2011 and joined the Russian team. After winning gold in Sochi, he said he wanted to train in the best environment. His decision caused a stir in South Korea, but many fans understood why he left. Ahn continued skating for Russia until 2019 and retired in April 2020.

In 2023, Ahn returned to South Korea. He applied to be a coach for the Seongnam City short track team. However, he faced criticism for coaching the Chinese team at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Some Korean coaches spoke out against his appointment. They said he had "betrayed his country" by sharing Korean sports skills with other nations. Because of this strong public opposition, Ahn was not given the coaching job.

After this, Ahn explained his situation. He said he had donated all the Olympic pension money he received before becoming a Russian citizen. This money went to children needing heart surgery and young Korean skaters. Later, he started his first official coaching role in South Korea. He became a coach for the 2023–2024 national team trials at the request of younger skaters.

Viktor An: Early Life and Training

Ahn started skating in 1993 when he was in primary school. He was inspired by the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. His hero, Chae Ji-hoon, won gold and silver medals there for South Korea. Ahn's coach, Kim Ki-hoon, was also an Olympic gold medalist. Kim spotted Ahn's talent and trained him. Ahn trained for ten hours every day. He focused on techniques, speed, endurance, and video analysis.

Viktor An's Amazing Career

Early Success and First Olympics

Ahn first competed internationally at the World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in 2002. He won the overall title by finishing first in the 1500 m, 1000 m, and 5000 m relay events.

He then went to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He reached the finals for the 1000 m event. However, he fell in a controversial race and did not win a medal. He finished fourth.

After the 2002 Olympics, Ahn placed second at his first senior World Championship. He started to dominate the sport from the 2002–2003 season. He won four overall World Championship titles in a row from 2003 to 2006. He also set world records for the 1500 m and 3000 m in 2003. These records lasted for eight years.

Olympic Glory in 2006

At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Ahn won three gold medals. He won the 1500 m and 1000 m events. He also helped his team win gold in the men's 5000 m relay. He used his special "outside overtaking" move to win the relay. Ahn also won a bronze medal in the 500 m event. He was the only athlete at these Games to win four medals.

He became the first short track speed skater to win a medal in every distance at one Olympics. He was also the first South Korean man to win at least three medals in a single Winter Olympics. After the Olympics, he continued his winning streak at the 2006 World Championships. He became the first male short track skater to win four World titles in a row.

Challenges and Changes

After the 2006 World Championships, there were problems within the South Korean short track team. Ahn's father had a public argument with a skating official. The team was split into two groups, and Ahn was coached separately. These tensions made him consider quitting the sport. Despite this, Ahn kept winning. He won his fifth World Championship in 2007. This made him the first man to win five World Championships in a row.

In January 2008, Ahn broke his knee during training. This injury kept him from competing in major events. He missed the 2008 World Championships. After three surgeries, he spent months recovering. By September 2008, he was back training, hoping for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Moving to Russia

In 2009, Ahn did not qualify for the South Korean Olympic team. He was still recovering from his injury. In 2011, his local team dissolved due to money problems. Ahn decided to move to Russia to focus on skating without distractions. He became a Russian citizen and joined their national team. He chose "Viktor" as his Russian name, meaning "victory." It also honored Viktor Tsoi, a famous Soviet rock star of Korean descent.

Sochi 2014 Olympics

Ahn at the men's 500 m podium at the 2014 Olympics

Ahn joined the Russian team and quickly found success. He won four gold medals at the 2014 European Championships. At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, he won a bronze medal in the 1500 m. This was Russia's first short track Olympic medal. He then won gold in the 1000 m, leading Russia to a 1-2 finish. On February 21, he won his second gold in the 500 m. With this, he became the first short track skater to win all four Olympic gold medals (500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, and 5000 m relay). He won his sixth Olympic gold in the 5000 m relay, becoming the short track skater with the most Olympic gold medals.

After his wins, many Koreans questioned why he left their team. The Korean President even ordered an investigation. Ahn said he moved to Russia only to pursue his skating career. He felt the media was making his relationship with Korean athletes awkward.

After Sochi and Retirement

A month after the Olympics, Ahn won his sixth World Championship title in 2014. He continued skating but also started coaching. He missed the 2015–2016 season due to knee problems and his wife's pregnancy. Doctors warned him against more surgery, so he focused on strengthening his muscles.

He continued to win medals for Russia at European and World Championships. He planned to retire after the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. However, he was not allowed to compete due to concerns about sports doping in Russia. The Olympic committee did not give specific reasons for banning him. Ahn had never tested positive for drugs and challenged the decision, but received no answer.

Ahn decided to retire in September 2018 and moved back to South Korea. He appeared on South Korean TV shows and worked as a player-coach. In February 2019, he changed his mind and decided to compete again. He won silver medals in the 500 m and 1000 m at World Cup events. He also helped Russia win gold in two relay races. In April 2020, Ahn announced his final retirement due to ongoing knee problems. He said he would continue to work for the sport.

Coaching in China and Return to Korea

In 2019, Ahn accepted a coaching position with China's national speed skating team. He helped Chinese skaters win two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. He trained by skating with the athletes.

During the 2022 Olympics, some Korean skaters were disqualified. This led to criticism against Ahn from South Korean fans. He later explained that judging issues can happen in sports. He was sad that the criticism extended to his family. After the Olympics, Ahn returned to Korea to be with his family.

In 2023, Ahn tried to become a coach for Seongnam City's short track team in South Korea. However, he faced strong opposition from some Korean coaches. They criticized him for coaching a rival country. Seongnam City decided not to hire anyone for the position. Ahn explained that he had donated his Olympic pension money before becoming a Russian citizen. He said he would accept criticism but would speak out against misunderstandings.

In April 2023, Ahn began his first official coaching activity in South Korea. He coached young skaters from Korea National Sport University. Seven of his students listed him as their coach for national team trials.

Conflict with a Mentor

Viktor An's decision to become a Russian citizen has often brought up his past conflict with his mentor, Jun Myung-kyu. Jun was a professor and coach to Ahn. According to some Korean media, Ahn chose to join a team that Professor Jun did not approve of in 2007. This caused their relationship to become distant.

In 2014, Ahn's father and a former national team coach said that Ahn was treated unfairly. They claimed Professor Jun had misused his power. Another official mentioned that Ahn's team closed down shortly after he joined it. This made it hard for him to find a place to train in Korea.

In March 2014, Professor Jun stepped down from his role. However, at that time, Ahn and the Korean Skating Union denied any major conflicts. Later, in 2018, Ahn sent a message saying he had a good relationship with Professor Jun. But in March 2022, Ahn told a news agency that he had never been treated unfairly by the Korean Skating Union.

Skating Style

• Wu Dajing: "Ahn is a master of short track speed skating. He is especially good at controlling the race."
• Chae Ji-hoon: "When he follows other skaters, he's not just following. He's always waiting for the perfect chance to pass."
• Apolo Anton Ohno: "Viktor Ahn is the most beautiful short track skater in the world because of his technique. He is built perfectly for short track. He has amazing technique and lots of experience."

Awards and Honors

Representing Korea

• In January 2006, Ahn won the Outstanding Player Award at the Sports Chosun Coca-Cola Sports Awards.
• He was chosen as Player of the Month by the American Sports Academy.
• He became an honorary ambassador for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics bid.
• In 2008, he was named Most Valuable Player by the Korea Skating Union.
• He also received the Men's Team Award at the Asian Sports Awards.
• In 2009, Ahn became an ambassador for the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation.

Representing Russia

• In March 2013, Russia named Ahn a Merited Master of Sport.
• After his success in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave him the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland".
• He also received the Medal "For Strengthening Military Cooperation".
• NBC chose him as the Most Valuable Player of the Sochi Winter Olympics.
• He was named 2014 Athlete of the Year by 'GQ' magazine in Russia.
• In 2014, he became an honorary ambassador for the Korea-Russia Year of Mutual Visit.
• In 2016, his university, Korea National Sports University, gave him the Proud Alumnus Award.
• He was inducted into the Korea National Sports University Ice Rink Hall of Fame and the Sochi Walk of Fame.

Personal Life

Ahn is married to Woo Nari (Korean: 우나리), who was a member of his fan club. He said she helped him adjust to life in Russia. Their daughter was born in December 2015. His wife later returned to South Korea because she missed it. Russian media reported that she wanted to raise their daughter in South Korea.

Ahn's younger brother, Ahn Hyun-Jun, is also a speed skater. He joined the Korean national speed skating team for the 2022–23 season. He switched from short track to speed skating in 2021.

Russian Citizenship

Vladimir Putin and Ahn after the 2014 Olympics

Ahn became a Russian citizen to compete for Russia in the 2014 Winter Olympics. His father said this was because he lacked support from the South Korean skating association. Ahn did not know Russian and had no family ties there. He considered the United States, but found it easier to get Russian citizenship. He chose the name "Viktor" because it means victory. It also honored Viktor Tsoi, a famous Soviet rock star of Korean background.

In South Korea, many people were upset that Ahn left to skate for Russia. Newspapers reported public anger towards the Korean skating federation. After the Olympics, the South Korean President ordered an investigation into the skating organization. In September 2018, Ahn retired and moved back to South Korea. While many Koreans supported him at first, he later faced some criticism. In 2023, he tried to get a coaching job in South Korea but was denied due to public opposition.

In the Media

• From 2010 to 2011, Ahn worked as a short track commentator for SBS Sports.
• From 2014 to 2016, he appeared on Russia's talk show Evening Urgant.
• From 2017 to 2018, Ahn and his daughter were guests on the South Korean reality show The Return of Superman.
• In 2018, he starred in the South Korean reality show Real Man 300.
• He also appeared on other TV shows like Han Su-jin's Sunday Click, Human Docu Love, and Live Talk Show Taxi.

Images for kids

• 

  Vladimir Putin and Ahn after the 2014 Olympics

• 

  Ahn at the men's 500 m podium at the 2014 Olympics

See also

In Spanish: Viktor Ahn para niños