South Korean artistic gymnast Kim Hansol will miss the Paris Olympics after suffering a knee injury during a training session this week, officials said Tuesday.

According to the Korea Gymnastics Association, Kim sustained his injury on a landing attempt during his vault training session at the Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, some 85 kilometers south of Seoul, on Monday. Tests done Tuesday revealed multiple ligament tears in Kim’s left knee.

The association has decided to send Hur Woong to Paris as Kim’s replacement.

In this file photo from June 26, 2024, South Korean artistic gymnast Kim Hansol speaks during the media day for the South Korean delegation to the Paris Olympics at the Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province. (Yonhap)

An official with the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee said the change will require final approval by the Olympic organizing committee.

Kim and the rest of the gymnastics team were scheduled to travel to Paris on Wednesday. He
is the first among 144 South Korean athletes set to compete in the French capital to drop out because of injury.

Kim, 28, was considered a medal threat in the men’s floor exercise. He is the two-time defending Asian Games gold medalist in that event and was set to compete in his third straight Olympics.

Hur, 24, is No. 6 in the men’s pommel horse in the International Gymnastics Federation World Cup rankings this season.

Source: Yonhap News Agency