Yun Sungbin: Seven things about South Korea's Iron Man including EXO and Beijing 2022

Yun Sungbin was one of the breakout stars of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.

South Korea's first ever skeleton gold medallist turned a growing sliding sports scene into a pop-culture phenomenon.

Even the 'Kings of K-Pop' EXO couldn't wait to meet him at the PyeongChang Games Closing Ceremony.

Now four years after the iconic images of him in his Iron Man helmet hurtling down the ice at over 130 km/h (81 mph), South Korea's superhero slider is ready to take on the world again at Beijing 2022.

The first non-European or American to win Olympic skeleton gold, Yun is staring down new obstacles with the same icy gaze and out to double down on his Olympic legacy.

The man they call 'The Emperor' is aiming for an unprecedented gold medal in February 2022, further inspiring a boom in his sport back home.

Here are seven things about Yun's life, legacy and future goals as he readies himself for another white-knuckle Olympic ride.

1. Yun Sungbin: The making of Iron Man

Yun may have fired himself to fame at the PyeongChang Games, but as a teenager he had hardly even heard of the sport of skeleton.

Born in Namhae in the south, bullfighting was bigger than any winter sport on an island where snow almost never falls and temperatures rarely drop below freezing.

He was recommended for skeleton by a teacher as far back as 2011 and didn't begin until he was 18.

At school, the legend goes that a young Sungbin would start 100m sprint races 10 metres behind everyone else his age and still win.

“I didn’t know much about skeleton," he said, "and neither did people around me. At first sight, I thought it would be thrilling, similar to riding a rollercoaster. However, on my first ride, I realised that going down the track at over 100 kph could never be easy.”

Despite his hesitations, Yun was a natural.

In the 2017–18 World Cup season, just before his home Olympic Games, he became the first Asian-born athlete to win the Skeleton World Cup overall title.

2. From unknown slider to Korean pop sensation

Yun was already something of a celebrity before the Olympics having made history on the World Cup circuit, but what happened in PyeongChang was off the scale.

Suddenly all eyes were fixed on this high-octane superhero in a Marvel helmet, and the traditional South Korean strongholds of speed skating, short track speed skating, and figure skating were upstaged.

Iron Man delivered, taking the entire nation with him headfirst down the track on a joyride to gold.

Suddenly he was front page news, the toast of the celebrity scene with actors like Park Seo Joon (who has almost 20m followers on Instagram), Park Se Young, Ahn Sun Young, and Lee Dong Hwi posting their congratulations online.

Yun became the face of the country's wildly successful showing as hosts of the Winter Games, and everybody wanted to meet him.

Even EXO.

3. When EXO couldn't wait to meet Yun Sungbin

Yun exploded into the pop-culture imagination and even K-Pop titans EXO couldn't wait to meet him.

"Yun Sung-bin has shown an incredible performance in the skeleton event and he also wore the Iron Man helmet. I also like Iron Man, so there seems to be some connection between us," singer-songwriter Suho said before the Closing Ceremony, as reported in The Korea Herald.

Suho also said Yun's unique Olympic dream and his commitment to making it happen had resonated deeply with him. "In that respect, he is an athlete that I want to learn from," he said.

4. Yun Sungbin's nickname: 'The Emperor'

An Olympic wave of gratitude swept over South Korea and the nickname 'Emperor' emerged for Yun, for his feats on the track and the way he carries himself off it: Stoic, strong, almost regal in his words and discreet approach.

The nickname even became an inspiration for him.

“After the Olympics, more people recognised me, praised me and supported me," he said, "people began to call me ‘Emperor’. And I want to be an athlete who consistently excels, like an emperor.”

5. How Yun Sungbin's legendary workouts have changed to make him stronger and faster

The skeleton superstar has viral thighs. In fact, his physique is a bit of a national obsession in his homeland with his five-hour daily workouts the stuff of legend.

At a press conference in September 2021, Yun revealed that he had started a new programme increasing his upper body weights training from 20% to 40% compared to the lower body in preparation for the season leading to the upcoming Olympic Games in China.

Iron Man is pumped and ready to fly at Beijing 2022.

6. Why Yun is unafraid of German strength

The 2020/21 season suffered major disruption due to the COVID-19 situation, but the German team dealt best with it as 24-year-old rising star Felix Seibel won the overall title from team-mate Kilian von Schleinitz.

Yun Sungbin competed in a total of four tournaments last season climbing up onto the podium twice.

So is he concerned about German domination?

"It's not a direct fight, so the concept of a competitor has no meaning," he said.

7. Iron Man unbent by Beijing 2022 challenges: "Everyone is in a difficult situation, we have to overcome it."

Preparations for Yun's run at a historic second-straight Olympic have been far from perfect.

First the test event which allows athletes to get a feel for the track a year out from the Games was moved to October 2021 - a little over three months from the event itself.

Then, his efforts to adapt the PyeongChang track where he trains to resemble the one in Yanqing, 75km from Beijing city centre, didn't quite work out.

Typically, he's unshaken. When asked about the advantage the Chinese athletes have had in their access to the track, or the difficulties of training and competing in a pandemic, he answers:

"Everyone is in a difficult situation, so we have to overcome it. I will just do my best to prepare according to the situation."

Iron Man is focused on what he can control, and the reigning Olympic champion is realistic about his expectations.

"Of course, the Olympics are important, but the goal of this Olympics is to enjoy it as much as possible without regrets."