Ok Sil HWANG

Hwang Ok-Sil became only the second North Korean athlete to win an Olympic medal in the Winter Olympics. She succeeded Han Pil-Hwa, who earned a surprise silver in 1964 speed skating. Hwang's medal was equally unexpected, holding off the more favored Monique Velzeboer in the final of the Olympic 500 m. Few other international results are known for Hwang Ok-Sil, who returned to the Olympics in 1998, but with little success.