Korean rhythmic gymnast Son makes first Olympic final [ 17 pics]

 Son Yeon-jae became the first South Korean rhythmic gymnast to make an Olympic final at qualifications for the individual all-around event on Thursday.

Son put together solid performances in clubs and the ribbon, earning 26.350 points and 28.050 points, respectively. She earned a total of 110.3 in all the four routines, finishing sixth.

“I‘ve prepared so hard for the Olympics, and my primary goal is to reach the final,” she said before the Thursday match.

“I was surprised with such a high score in hoop. I made a mistake in ball, but I am confident I can put up good scores in clubs and ribbon, too.”

The top 10 gymnasts will qualify for Saturday’s final.　

The 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games bronze medalist is one of South Korea’s star athletes who often appear in TV commercials.

Son Yeon-Jae (born 28 May 1994 in Seoul, South Korea) is a South Korean rhythmic gymnast. A member of the South Korean national gymnastics team, based in Taereung, Seoul., she is the 2010 Asian Games bronze medalist, and is managed by the IB Sports agency. Son currently trains in Russia.

Son Yeon-Jae made her international debut at Corbeil-Essonnes International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament on May 2010. She placed 11th. At the 2010 World Championships, she placed 32nd in the individual all-around. At the 2011 Grand Prix, she placed 19th in the individual overall with the total score of 100,700

At the Grand Prix series held on February 2012, she tied for the 18th place  with Wong Posh San with the total score of 100,850 in the individual overall and third in the Hoop final On April 2012, Son became the first Korean rhythmic gymnast to medal at the World Cup Series, Category B by winning a bronze medal in the Hoop final in Penza, Russia, and placed fourth in the individual overall On May 2012, she finished last in the Hoop final at the World Cup Series, Category B in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and placed fifth overall[8]. Son finished second to last in the individual all-around at the World Cup Series, Category A in Sofia, Bulgaria[9].





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