A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The First World Record Of The 2012 Olympics

South Korea’s Im Dong Hyun is legally blind and a world-class archer. Oh, and he just broke a world record.

I know, right? Now tell your friends!
A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The Firs...
Jack Moore

Image by Paul Gilham / Getty Images

In the first round of the individual archery competition, each competitor shoots 72 arrows at a target. Their score will seed them for the coming elimination rounds. Even though the opening ceremonies aren’t until later tonight, this preliminary round began earlier today, and the legally blind Im Dong Hyun of Korea broke his own 72-arrow world record by posting a score of 699, which being a world record, is probably very high.

The Korean archer has myopia and 20/200 vision in his left eye. As a result, he can barely see the target and only makes out the vague colors. Despite this obvious hurdle, Im doesn’t use glasses or contacts. In fact, he’s declined offers for free corrective surgery, and instead relies on his ability to “feel” each shot. So he’s basically the Luke Skywalker of archery, which is pretty great.

And if you needed another reason to root for the legally blind guy who is breaking world records in a sport where sight is, you know, important, this is what Im had to say about London:

Image by Paul Gilham / Getty Images

How can you not love Im Dong Hyun? Legally blind. World record holder. Olympic slogan writer: “London 2012: Rain and Gentlemen.”

Check out more articles on BuzzFeed.com!

Facebook Conversations

          

    3 Responses So Far

    • vikka   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s OMG & Win  about 9 months ago
    • elysejaninaalejandrop   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The...  about 9 months ago
    • ZombieKitty thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is OMG & Win  about 9 months ago
    • seannyfleming thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win & OMG  about 9 months ago
    • yigef thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • cheesepancup thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • stefani thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • WorldCitizen thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • kaileed   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s Win  about 9 months ago
    • schmoo thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • kimberellec   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s Win  about 9 months ago
    • rachelanner   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s Win  about 9 months ago
    • GBach   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s Win  about 9 months ago
    • carmenw2 thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • spinthestars thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • josephw5   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The...  about 9 months ago
    • LB   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s Win  about 9 months ago
    • kerry reyes thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • bradb6 thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • joshuak9 thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is OMG & Win  about 9 months ago
    • GASOLINERAINBOW 9 months ago

      I thought we were going to get to see his dong.

    • leonardshek   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The...  about 9 months ago
    • turtlepower thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • jodiathome thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • coolstorybros thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • roxywilde thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • gwaace   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s Win  about 9 months ago
    • bethany blackmon thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • BlackStaRr thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • ketorin thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • michaeldavidb thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • caladiel thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • rebeccak13 thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • TheT thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is starting to get hot on Twitter Tweet It  about 9 months ago
    • A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is starting to get hot on Facebook Share It  about 9 months ago
    • Muzz   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s Win  about 9 months ago
    • tbonestreep   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s Win  about 9 months ago
    • MsSkeet   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s Win  about 9 months ago
    • blondeassassin thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • taranh   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The...  about 9 months ago
    • Rae3407 thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • ney   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s Win  about 9 months ago
    • apbaek thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • fredodf thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • RhiRiot 9 months ago

      Does anyone else absolutely hate the font treatment that the “London 2012” is being used in? It looks so chicken scratch-ish. And the logo looks like a dude Tebowing. God I’m a nerd (or design snob, not sure)

    • Disillusioned Youth thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • ak4d7 thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • therblig thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • Erin Sanner thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • Housewifebear thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • deaddrift 9 months ago

      Not LOL, dammit!

    • deaddrift   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... and thinks it’s OMG, Win & LOL  about 9 months ago
    • davidc60   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The...  about 9 months ago
    • m30wtr0n thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is OMG & Win  about 9 months ago
    • Devin C. thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • chewylucy thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • elli thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Awesome  about 9 months ago
    • brittanye4 thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • JeffonTheRadio thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • DanteTheTerp thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • michellec21 thinks A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The... is Win  about 9 months ago
    • chunklee123   A Legally Blind Archer Just Broke The...  about 9 months ago
     
    Now Buzzing