Nathan Lim, a 16-year-old Korean American from Rancho Cucamonga, won junior shooting gold at the inaugural Americas Junior Rifle and Pistol Championship in Paraguay, competing for Team USA.
Held from February 27 to March 6, the event drew top junior shooters from across the continent. Lim took first place in the men’s 10-meter air pistol, one of the most competitive events.
Rare win for Asian American in U.S. shooting scene
A sophomore at Los Osos High School, Lim trains with the Bridge Junior Shooting Club. His gold stands out in a sport where most U.S. athletes are white.
Gold medal dedicated to late coach
Lim’s win came just months after the death of Kim In-Hyun, his longtime coach and a former U.S. national team assistant.
“Coach Kim pushed us to be strong both mentally and physically,” Lim said. “He supported me for seven years. I trained the way he taught me and shot this match for him.”
Club sees win as shared success
Janice Choi, who now leads the Bridge club, called the junior shooting gold a team victory.
“This medal is for all of us,” Choi said. “Coach Kim’s lessons still guide our athletes. Nathan’s success shows that.”
She added that having a Korean American win gold while representing the U.S. in a white-dominated sport is a meaningful milestone. “We’re proud of what he accomplished.”
Next target: LA 2028
Lim picked up shooting at 8, following his older brother. Years of steady training led to a spot on the junior national team. His next goal is to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
