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S. Korea mourns death of pioneering rider
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-12-08 16:10

South Korea on Friday mourned the death of eventer Kim Hyung-chil, a pioneer working to popularise equestrianism in the country, after he was crushed by his horse in a heavy fall at the Asian Games on Thursday.

S. Korea mourns death of pioneering rider
An official from South Korea's Ministry of culture and tourism places a medal next to a portrait of rider Kim Hyung-chil on an altar in Seoul December 8, 2006. South Korea on Friday mourned the death of Kim, a pioneer working to popularise equestrianism in the country, after he was crushed by his horse in a heavy fall at the Asian Games on Thursday.[Reuters]
S. Korea mourns death of pioneering rider

With heavy rain pouring down on the Doha Racing and Equestrian club, Kim's horse Bundaberg Black tumbled and landed on the 47-year-old father of two after a fall at a fence. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at hospital.

Family and media remembered the life of the veteran rider whose love for the sport had taken him beyond the course and into classrooms and a ranch he ran with a dream of spreading the sport in South Korea.

S. Korea mourns death of pioneering rider
So Won-mi (L), wife of rider Kim Hyung-chil who died at the Equestrian Cross Country event at the 15th Asian Games in Doha, mourns for Kim in Seoul December 8, 2006. South Korea on Friday mourned the death of Kim, a pioneer working to popularise equestrianism in the country, after he was crushed by his horse in a heavy fall at the Asian Games on Thursday. [Reuters]
S. Korea mourns death of pioneering rider

"Equestrianism is about the only sport that you and another live being engage in as one," Kim was quoted as saying once by the Sports Seoul newspaper.

"The attraction is that you are communicating with your horse as you enjoy the sport."

Kim's family in Yongin south of Seoul, where he coached a college team, were devastated and thrown into disbelief after Kim had died competing in a sport he had loved so much.

"He had called just the other day and said he was feeling terrific and that he would be trying for the gold medal," Kim's wife So Won-mi was quoted as saying by Sports Chosun newspaper.

GRIEVING FANS

The Korean Equestrian Federation was unwilling to blame the fatal accident on Doha games organisers, but grieving fans and the public demanded to know how the veteran rider could have perished pursuing a sport to which he had given 30 years of his life.

"Of course horses cannot run properly if the ground gets wet from rain," mourner Chun Young-jun wrote on the Korean Olympic Committee web site bulletin board, adding rules governing the equestrian event must be changed to take the sport indoors.

The president of South Korea's National Olympic Committee (KOC) Kim Jung-kil said on YTN TV from Doha he would ask game organisers and the International Equestrian Federation (IEF) to conduct a full probe into the accident.

But an equestrian official in Seoul said the fall was triggered by a combination of factors and probably not because organisers were overzealous in pressing on with the competition in rainy conditions.

"Fence No. 8 is heavy and fixed, and it is designed to test the skill of the rider and the horse," the official said requesting anonymity.

IEF vice president Christopher Hodson has also rejected suggestions the eventing schedule in the rain had put too much stress on the horses.