Hangzhou's 'no-medal' humiliation erased... Nam Dong-heon wins dressage gold [20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya]

The national anthem rang out over the sand at Tokyo Equestrian Park for the first time in 12 years. South Korean equestrianism, pushed to the brink after suffering the pain of a medal-less showing at the previous Games, made a spectacular comeback on the strength of a 37-year-old veteran rider's hard work. Nam Dong-heon, an ill-fated ace who had been forced to give up his spot just before competing at the previous Games, conquered the highest point on the Asian stage after three grueling years of waiting.
Nam Dong-heon displayed perfect harmony with his horse 'Leonidas' in the final of the individual dressage event at the 2026 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya, held at Tokyo Equestrian Park in Tokyo, Japan, on the 27th. He recorded a final score of 75.190 points and proudly claimed the gold medal. It was South Korea's first individual dressage title in 12 years, since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
Known as 'ballet on horseback,' dressage is a highly demanding mental sport in which the rapport between rider and horse, along with the precision and artistry of their movements, is scored as a percentage. In an arena where the slightest wobble can lead to a fatal deduction, Nam orchestrated Leonidas like a conductor leading an orchestra. The result was a thrilling victory by just 0.140 points. He narrowly held off China's Wei Zai, who had scored 75.050 points, and also defeated Rao Jiayi, who took bronze with 74.935 points, single-handedly stopping China's relentless assault.
This gold medal carries a story far greater than a mere victory. South Korean equestrianism was the undisputed powerhouse in dressage, sweeping five consecutive gold medals from the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games through the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. But after its gold-medal streak ended at the 2018 Asian Games, it suffered the humiliation of winning no medals at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games—the first medal-less finish in the event's history since its introduction in 1986.
No one was more devastated than Nam himself. At the Hangzhou Asian Games, his bid to compete was derailed by the agonizing misfortune of a sudden injury to 'First Edition,' the horse with which he had worked in tandem for a long time. But he did not stay down. He sharpened his resolve over three years while building a rapport with his new partner, the 10-year-old Leonidas. After recording the highest score among all competitors in the team event on the 25th, 70.559 points, and leading South Korea to a silver medal, he finally capped the individual event with gold, personally reclaiming the 12 years South Korean equestrianism had lost.
The excitement at the equestrian park carried over to the 'silver spray' at Tokyo Aquatics Center. Kim Su-ji (Ulsan Metropolitan City Sports Council), a leading figure in South Korean diving, and Kim Na-hyun (Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Office) combined for a valuable silver medal in the final of the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard event, scoring 254.70 points over the first through fifth dives. Gold went to China's Chen Yiwen-Chen Jia duo, who displayed overwhelming skill with 328.56 points.
Kim Su-ji and Kim Na-hyun got off to a smooth start in second place, each scoring 46.80 points in the first dive (forward) and the second dive (inward), both with a degree of difficulty of 2.0. They continued steadily, earning 59.40 points in the third dive (backward 21⁄2 somersaults), which had a degree of difficulty of 3.0. However, they ran into trouble after making a painful mistake in the fourth dive (reverse 21⁄2 somersaults), managing only 44.10 points.
But the South Korean pair showed fierce resolve when it mattered. In the decisive fifth and final dive (forward 21⁄2 somersault with 1 twist), with the color of the medal on the line, the two steadied their shaken nerves and soared off the board. With a clean routine and perfect entries, they scored 57.60 points, fending off the Malaysian pair's pursuit, who took bronze with 243.72 points, to hold on to second place.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter