40 Facts About Gwak Dong-han

Gwak Dong-han won the gold medal in the 90 kg event at the 2015 World Judo Championships.

Gwak Dong-han is currently ranked No 1 in the world.

Gwak Dong-han was his coach's Song Dae-nam's training partner at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Gwak Dong-han won his first IJF circuit title at the World Cup in Ulaanbaatar.

Gwak Dong-han defeated Mongolia's Bat-erdene Davaadorj in the final by ippon.

Gwak Dong-han was defeated by Japan's Yuya Yoshida by ippon in golden score.

Gwak Dong-han reached the final of the World Cup in Jeju, where he narrowly won by decision and yuko in the quarter-final and semi-final.

Gwak Dong-han eventually lost against Japan's Kensei Ikeda by waza-ari, and settled for silver.

Gwak Dong-han lost in his second fight to European champion Varlam Liparteliani by ippon.

Gwak Dong-han played ippon judo en route to the final of his first continental tournament, but lost by shido to Japan's Shohei Shimowada, settling for silver.

Gwak Dong-han participated in his first World Championships in Rio de Janeiro.

Gwak Dong-han lost in his third fight to eventual world champion Asley Gonzalez by ippon.

Gwak Dong-han won his second IJF circuit title at the Grand Prix in Jeju, causing an upset by defeating legend Ilias Iliadis by ippon with uchi mata.

Gwak Dong-han competed in his first Paris Grand Slam and finished fifth, losing to future rival Mashu Baker by ippon and waza-ari.

Gwak Dong-han lost in the quarter-final to Mongolia's Otgonbataar Lkhagvasuren by waza-ari, but won in the repechage against Kazakhstan's Timur Bolat.

Gwak Dong-han won bronze after defeating Tajikistan's Komronshokh Ustopiriyon by ippon.

Gwak Dong-han successfully defended his title by winning against Azerbaijan's Mammadali Mehdiyev by ippon and waza-ari in the final.

Gwak Dong-han won in his third outing to the Grand Slam in Tokyo, defeating three Japanese judokas consecutively.

Gwak Dong-han beat Baker in the quarter-final by waza-ari and yuko, Kenta Nagasawa in the semi-final by shido, and Nishiyama in the final by yuko.

Gwak Dong-han finished fifth in his second outing to the Grand Prix in Dusseldorf, losing to rival Nishiyama in the bronze medal contest by waza-ari.

Gwak Dong-han participated in his first European Open in Warsaw, and won the tournament by defeating all his opponents by ippon.

Gwak Dong-han faced Lithuania's Karolis Bauza in the final, who was the only one to gain a score against Gwak, but was ultimately defeated.

Gwak Dong-han won his first continental title in Kuwait City, making it his second tournament to win all fights by ippon.

Gwak Dong-han defeated long time rival Nishiyama in the final, using his signature skill seoi nage for ippon.

Gwak Dong-han had a breakthrough in his career at the World Championships in Astana.

Gwak Dong-han continued playing ippon judo in his first two fights, however narrowly won by yuko until the semi-final.

Gwak Dong-han defeated Russia's Kirill Denisov in the final by waza-ari, becoming one of South Korea's two world champions in the tournament.

Gwak Dong-han surprisingly finished seventh at his first outing as world champion.

Gwak Dong-han won his third consecutive Grand Prix in Jeju, narrowly beating the experienced Magomed Magomedov and Iliadis by shido.

Gwak Dong-han defeated France's Axel Clerget for a waza-ari and yuko, winning the gold medal.

Gwak Dong-han failed to defend his title at Tokyo, but managed to win bronze.

Gwak Dong-han defeated rival Nishiyama in the quarter-final by shido, however lost to Nishiyama's teammate Baker in the semi-final by ippon in golden score.

Gwak Dong-han won the bronze medal by defeating Russia's Kirill Voprosov by ippon.

Gwak Dong-han competed in his second Paris Grand Slam, and was the heavy favorite with the absence of Baker.

Gwak Dong-han faced long-time rival and eventual winner Nishiyama in the quarter-final, and lost by yuko.

Gwak Dong-han won the repechage against Eduardo Bettoni and won the bronze medal by defeating Ciril Grossklaus by waza-ari.

Gwak Dong-han continued his medal-less streak in Dusseldorf when he lost to Sweden's Marcus Nyman in the semi-final by a single yuko.

Gwak Dong-han was set to face fellow countryman Kim Jae-yun, however did not fight due to injury, leaving him to finish fifth place.

Gwak Dong-han has transformed into a world-class athlete by gaining weight and increasing muscular strength.

The tendency of Gwak Dong-han to maintain composure, no matter the circumstances, has developed into one of his strengths.