Dong Seon Kim ’12 has set a new record as the highest finish for the Republic of Korea in Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Grand Prix dressage competition, which is dominated by Europeans and Americans, reports the Korea JoongAng Daily.

With his horse Bukowski, Kim earned a 65% score and third place in the FEI Olympic Grand Prix Special at the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge (Florida) on January 27. He also finished fifth with a 63.596% in the FEI Grand Prix Open on January 26.

Dressage, frequently described as dancing with horses, is an Olympic sport in which horse and rider execute precise movements with athleticism and grace. Grand Prix is the highest level of competition.

At just 17 years old, Kim won a team gold medal in the 2006 Asian Games and now has his sights set on winning his country’s first Olympic medal in dressage. He hopes to qualify as an individual to compete in the 2012 games in London.

Read the full story, published 1/31/12 by the Korea JoongAng Daily.