Shin A-Lam

At the Challenge International de Saint-Maur 2013
Personal information
Native name	신아람
Nationality	South Korean
Born	(1986-09-23) September 23, 1986 (age 26) Geumsan, South Korea
Sport
Sport	Fencing
Event(s)	Épée
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals	Silver (Team épée, 2012) 4th (Épée, 2012)
Medal record Women's fencing Competitor for  South Korea Olympic Games Silver 2012 London Team épée World Championships Bronze 2010 Paris Team épée Universiade Bronze 2011 Shenzhen Épée Asian Championships Gold 2012 Wakayama Épée Asian Games Silver 2006 Doha Team épée Bronze 2010 Guangzhou Team épée Bronze 2006 Doha Épée
Updated on 31 July 2012.

Shin A-Lam (Korean: 신아람, born 23 September 1986 in Geumsan, Chungcheongnam-do) is a épée fencer from South Korea.^[1]

Education [edit]

• 2005 - 2009, Korea National Sport University.
• 2002 - 2005 Girls High School, Geumsan, South Korea.

Career [edit]

• 2006 Doha Asian Games - Women's National Fencing Team
• 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games - Women's National Fencing Team
• 2011 2011 Shenzhen - Women's National Fencing Team
• 2012 London Olympic - Women's national fencing Team

2012 Summer Olympics [edit]

She competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Women's épée in both the individual and team event.

In the semifinals of women's individual épée, she controversially lost to German Britta Heidemann after a timekeeping error extended bout time. The situation arose at the end of the one minute overtime (sudden death) with the match tied 5-5. Shin would have won the tied bout on the basis of priority, by rule randomly awarded before the overtime period.

With one second showing, Heidemann made two attacks both halted by double-touches, however, the clock failed to countdown in either of those two attacks, and remained at one second. During the break, the timekeeper (a Games Volunteer) inadvertently restarted the clock, expiring the time remaining, reportedly .02 seconds.^[2] The clock now showing 0:00, Shin prematurely celebrated. However, the timekeeper, with the referee's permission, reset the clock to a full second, the minimum actually possible. Heidemann then scored a single touch as the full second expired.^[3] The result was partly due to both fencers restarting closer than specified distance, Heidemann "crowding" to hurry her attack, and Shin trying to avoid retreating across the end line.^[4]

The South Koreans appealed the decision stating that time had elapsed and the final touch occurred after the end of the bout. In accordance with fencing bylaws, Shin A-Lam could not leave the strip while the officials deliberated the situation, and waited over an hour on the piste after the match was completed.^[5] Ultimately, the judges upheld their initial ruling.

With the crowd cheering her on, Shin returned to duel in the Bronze Medal match, but lost to her Chinese opponent.^[6]

Later, the International Fencing Federation offered her a "special medal" after her controversial épée semi-final defeat.^[7] But she rejected the medal saying "It does not make me feel better because it's not an Olympic medal. I don't accept the result because I believe it was a mistake."^[8]

Shin won a silver medal in Women's team épée competition five days later.

See also [edit]

Controversies at the 2012 Summer Olympics

External links [edit]

• Shin A-lam at Sports Reference
• Profile at the FIE website
• Cyworld account

References [edit]