EAST ASIA
Cho Sung-min (Republic of Korea, 39) – Sailing
Headline: Versatile Cho sets course for the future
Cho was born in Busan and grew up alongside the ocean. He was introduced to sailing as a child and quickly became fascinated by the charm of propelling a boat entirely through the power of the wind.
As his career developed and flourished, Cho displayed his adaptability and went on to compete in four Asian Games (2002, 2010, 2014 and 2022) and two Olympic Games (2012 and 2020) across three distinct disciplines: Boy Optimist, Open Match Racing and 470 Men.
Those four Asian Games appearances yielded three medals: one silver and two bronze medals.
“Reflecting on this journey, competing across multiple disciplines was not merely a choice to accumulate event appearances,” he said.
“Every time the sporting environment and competition formats shifted, it was a process of taking on new roles, learning fresh strategies and growing through adaptation.
“Each event demanded distinct training methods, tactical operations and team coordination. Experiencing these differences firsthand provided me with a well-rounded foundation to understand the realities of sports and athletes from diverse perspectives.”
Cho has also assembled an impressive academic career as well as being a member of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee Athletes’ Committee since 2025 and a member of the Athletes’ Commission of the Korean Sailing Federation, also since 2025.
Becoming a member of the OCA AC would be another big step forward in his career in and out of the choppy seas.
“Over nearly three decades as an athlete, I have learned that sports excellence is not achieved through individual effort alone,” he said.
“High performance requires not only talent and hard training, but also an appropriate environment, trustworthy coaching and support systems, fair regulations and a culture that earnestly listens to athletes' voices.
“I, too, have encountered circumstances that individual willpower could not resolve, and it was through the support of many that I was able to find my direction again. These experiences made me realize how crucial it is to have a structured framework where athletes can speak up and receive proper assistance when needed.”
