{{Short description|South Korean fencer (born 1989)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox fencer | name = Gu Bon-gil | image = Gu Bon-gil 2015 WCh SMS-EQ t145725.jpg | imagesize = 150px | caption = Gu at the men's team sabre qualification stage of the 2015 World Fencing Championships on 16 July 2014 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|4|27|df=yes}} | birth_place = Daegu, South Korea | country = South Korea | weapon = Sabre | hand = right-handed | height = 1.82 m | weight = 70 kg | natlcoach = | club = Korea Sports Promotion Foundation<ref>{{cite web |title=KSPO 스포츠단 — 펜싱 프로필 |url=http://www.krace.or.kr/contents/sports/fencingProfilePage.do |publisher=Korea Sports Promotion Foundation |language=ko}}</ref> | headcoach = | fieranking = [https://fie.org/athletes/18876 current ranking] | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's sabre}} {{MedalCountry|{{KOR}}}} {{MedalCount |Olympic Games|3|0|0 |Asian Games|6|2|0 |World Championships|4|4|2 |Asian Championships|14|4|0 }} {{MedalOlympic}} {{MedalGold|2012 London|Team}} {{MedalGold|2020 Tokyo|Team}} {{MedalGold|2024 Paris|Team}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold|2017 Leipzig|Team}} {{MedalGold|2018 Wuxi|Team}} {{MedalGold|2019 Budapest|Team}} {{MedalGold|2022 Cairo|Team}} {{MedalSilver|2014 Kazan|Individual}} {{MedalSilver|2014 Kazan|Team}} {{MedalSilver|2017 Leipzig|Individual}} {{MedalSilver|2023 Milan|Team}} {{MedalBronze|2011 Catania|Individual}} {{MedalBronze|2013 Budapest|Team}} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Games}} {{MedalGold|2010 Guangzhou|Individual}} {{MedalSilver|2010 Guangzhou|Team}} {{MedalGold|2014 Incheon|Individual}} {{MedalGold|2018 Jakarta|Individual}} {{MedalGold|2014 Incheon|Team}} {{MedalGold|2018 Jakarta|Team}} {{MedalGold|2022 Hangzhou|Team}} {{MedalSilver|2022 Hangzhou|Individual}} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Championships}} {{MedalGold|2010 Seoul|Individual}} {{MedalGold|2011 Seoul|Team}} {{MedalGold|2012 Wakayama|Individual}} {{MedalGold|2013 Shanghai|Individual}} {{MedalGold|2013 Shanghai|Team}} {{MedalGold|2014 Suwon|Individual}} {{MedalGold|2014 Suwon|Team}} {{MedalGold|2015 Singapore|Team}} {{MedalGold|2016 Wuxi|Team}} {{MedalGold|2017 Hong Kong|Individual}} {{MedalGold|2017 Hong Kong|Team}} {{MedalGold|2019 Chiba|Team}} {{MedalGold|2022 Seoul|Team}} {{MedalGold|2022 Seoul|Individual}} {{MedalGold| 2024 Kuwait City | Team}} {{MedalSilver|2010 Seoul|Team sabre}} {{MedalSilver|2011 Seoul|Individual}} {{MedalSilver|2012 Wakayama|Team}} {{MedalSilver|2015 Singapore|Individual}} {{MedalCompetition|Universiade}} {{MedalGold|2017 Taipei|Team}} {{MedalSilver|2011 Shenzhen|Individual}} {{MedalBronze|2011 Shenzhen|Team}} }} {{Infobox Korean name/auto |hangul=%구본길 |hanja=具本佶 }} {{Family name hatnote|Gu||lang=Korean}}
'''Gu Bon-gil''' ({{Langx|ko|구본길}}, {{IPA|ko|ku.bon.ɡil}} or {{IPA|ko|ku|}} {{IPA|ko|pon.ɡil|}}; born 27 April 1989) is a South Korean right-handed sabre fencer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/athletes/18876 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref>
Gu is an eight-time team Asian champion, seven-time individual Asian champion, and three-time team world champion.
A three-time Olympian, Gu is a three-time team Olympic champion.
==Early life== A native of Daegu, Gu had played football all through elementary and middle school and went on to {{ill|Osung High School|ko|오성고등학교}}, which was the alma mater of his 2012 Olympics teammate Oh Eun-seok. The fencing coach at Osung High School had already noticed him in middle school and persuaded him to switch sports.<ref>{{cite news |title='어펜져스' 구본길의 스승 "모교 위해 헌신한 22년, 후회는 없습니다!" |url=https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/A2021121510340004598 |work=Hankook Ilbo |date=18 December 2021 |language=ko}}</ref> He majored in physical education at Dong-Eui University, then one of the few universities which had a fencing team.<ref>{{cite news |title=동의대 출신 구본길, 김준호 선수 펜싱 세계선수권 단체전 3연패 |url=https://www.deu.ac.kr/www/boardview/9/1164 |publisher=Dong-Eui University |date=23 July 2019 |language=ko}}</ref>
Gu was already selected for the youth national teams as a high school student and participated in the 2006 Cadet (Under 17) World Championships. He won individual gold at the Junior (Under 20) World Championships and Junior Asian Championships in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=[Zoom in] 2008 아시아 청소년 펜싱 선수권대회 개인전 및 단체전에서 우승한 구본길， 전혜인 선수 |url=https://www.deupress.or.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=294 |work=DEU Press |publisher=Dong-Eui University |date=4 December 2008 |language=ko}}</ref><ref name="ChosunIlbo.Dec2011">{{cite news |title=구본길, 국제펜싱연맹 갈라쇼 참가 |url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/12/02/2011120202708.html |work=The Chosun Ilbo |date=2 December 2011 |language=ko}}</ref>
==Career== Gu was first selected for the senior national team in 2010.<ref name="ChosunIlbo.Dec2011"/> He made headlines that year by winning two silver medals in the Grand Prix circuit and individual gold medals at both the Asian Games and Asian Championships. The media dubbed him the "scary rookie" after he narrowly defeated compatriot Oh Eun-seok, then world number 2, in the semi-finals of the Asian Games.<ref>{{cite news |title=펜싱 구본길 첫 출전서 '대박' |url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/culture/culture_general/449773.html |work=The Hankyoreh |date=19 November 2010 |language=ko}}</ref><ref name="ChosunIlbo.Dec2011"/> His gold medal at the Asian Games meant that he was exempted from mandatory military service.<ref name="JoongAng.Aug2018">{{cite news |title=칼을 겨눈 선후배 … 구본길 금, 오상욱 은 |url=https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/22900734#home |work=JoongAng Ilbo |date=21 August 2018 |language=ko}}</ref>
Gu won two individual gold medals at the 2010–11 Fencing World Cup and ended the competition ranked number 3 overall. He was selected to participate in the 2012 Summer Olympics along with Oh, Kim Jung-hwan and Won Woo-young. The Olympics began on a sour note as he, Kim and Won did not make it past the semi-final stage of the individual event.<ref>{{cite news |title=Driven by controversy, S. Korean fencers enjoy record medal haul |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20120805000029 |work=The Korea Herald |date=5 August 2012}}</ref> They managed to win a historic gold in the team event, South Korea's first ever Olympic gold medal in the men's team sabre category.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fencers stay sharp from start to finish |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2957449 |work=Korea JoongAng Daily |date=6 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fencing: Unfancied South Korea win men's sabre gold |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oly-fenc-femtsb-finals-day7-idUSBRE8721QF20120803 |work=Reuters |date=4 August 2012}}</ref> The quartet continued to dominate in the team events, sweeping gold at both the Asian Championships and Asian Games hosted at home and winning silver at the World Championships. They also successfully defended their team gold medal at the 2015 Asian Fencing Championships.
Oh Eun-seok and Won Woo-young both retired and were replaced by youngsters Oh Sang-uk and Kim Jun-ho. There was no men's team sabre event at 2016 Summer Olympics due to the now-abolished rotation policy. Gu and Kim Jung-hwan both qualified for the individual event. However, he was narrowly defeated by Mojtaba Abedini, whom Kim went on to defeat in the bronze medal bout.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reigning fencing gold medalist knocked out early in Rio |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160811000248 |work=The Korea Herald |date=11 August 2016}}</ref> The following year, the team won gold in the men's team sabre event at the 2017 World Fencing Championships, the country's first team gold at the worlds since 2005, and swept team gold at the 2018 World Championships and Asian Games.<ref>{{cite news |title=천하무적 '조선검객 4인방' 女心을 찌르다 |url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/08/06/2018080600006.html |work=The Chosun Ilbo |date=2 August 2018 |language=ko}}</ref> Gu himself won individual silver in the 2017 worlds and successfully defended his Asian Games gold the following year.<ref>{{cite news |title=S. Korea wins men's team sabre gold at world championships |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20170725001200315 |work=Yonhap News Agency |date=25 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="JoongAng.Aug2018"/>
Kim Jung-hwan announced his retirement after the 2018 Asian Games and was replaced by Ha Han-sol. The team won gold at the 2019 World Fencing Championships, Gu's third consecutive team gold at the worlds.<ref>{{cite news |title=한국 남자 펜싱 사브르, 세계선수권 단체전 3연패 |url=https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201907221677078312 |work=Hankook Ilbo |date=22 July 2017 |language=ko}}</ref> Kim came back out of retirement and reunited with the same team from the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Championships. They qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which had been postponed for a year. Despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and changes to coaching staff, they won team gold, making Gu and Kim the first South Korean fencers (among all fencing disciplines, male or female) to win back-to-back team gold medals at the Olympics.{{efn|2016 Summer Olympics did not hold the men's team sabre following FIE's rotation system for team events.|name=NH|group=}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Korean fencers find success through teamwork in Tokyo |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/08/01/sports/olympics/Team-Korea-Sabre-Fleuret/20210801181500529.html |work=Korea JoongAng Daily |date=1 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=[Tokyo Olympics] Gold medal just the beginning for S. Korean sabre fencing |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210729000149 |work=The Korea Herald |date=29 July 2021}}</ref>
The 2021–22 World Cup season began uneventfully for Gu as he was not able to participate in the Orléans Grand Prix held in October, having tested positive for COVID-19 the day before the competition.<ref>{{cite news |title=펜싱선수 구본길, 프랑스서 코로나 확진…"방송엔 차질 無" |url=https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25024273#home |work=JoongAng Ilbo |date=16 November 2021 |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='佛대회 중 코로나' 어펜저스 구본길 "현재 몸상태 아주 좋습니다!" |url=https://www.chosun.com/sports/sports_photo/2021/11/18/UBHMNP6OSBV7EM7BLVVVBOXQPI/ |work=The Chosun Ilbo |date=18 November 2021 |language=ko}}</ref> He returned to the team which won gold at both the Men's Team World Cup in January and the World Championships to retain their #1 ranking in the team category. Gu himself finished that season on a high by winning gold at the Asian Championships and medalling for the first time at a Grand Prix event since 2018, only losing to Áron Szilágyi in the Padua Grand Prix final by a single point.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hungary's Szilagyi, Azerbaijan's Bashta Win Gold at Padua Sabre Grand Prix |url=https://fie.org/articles/1193 |website=FIE.org |date=23 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Korea takes four sabre medals at Asian Fencing Championships |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/06/13/sports/more/Korea-Korean-fencer-2022-Seoul-Asian-Fencing-Championships/20220613131520455.html |work=Korea JoongAng Daily |date=13 June 2022}}</ref>
==Medal record== ===Olympic Games=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !Year ! style="width:17em" |Location ! style="width:12em" |Event !Position |- |2012 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|GBR}} London, United Kingdom |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2012/252 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2021 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|JPN}} Tokyo, Japan | Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2021/252 |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2024 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|FRA}} Paris, France | Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st |}
===World Championship=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !Year ! style="width:17em" |Location ! style="width:12em" |Event !Position |- |2011 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|ITA}} Catania, Italy |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2011/246 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2013 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|HUN}} Budapest, Hungary |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2013/252 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2014 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|RUS}} Kazan, Russia |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2014/246 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2014 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|RUS}} Kazan, Russia |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2014/252 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2017 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|GER}} Leipzig, Germany |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2017/246 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2017 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|GER}} Leipzig, Germany |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2017/252 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2018 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|CHN}} Wuxi, China |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2018/252 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2019 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|HUN}} Budapest, Hungary |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2019/252 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2022 |align="left" |{{flagicon|EGY}} Cairo, Egypt |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{cite news |title=List of results – Championnat du monde |url=https://fie.org/competition/2022/252/results/ranking/pdf?lang=en |access-date=23 July 2022 |agency=FIE |publisher=fie.org |date=15 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> |}
===Asian Championship=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !Year ! style="width:17em" |Location ! style="width:12em" |Event !Position |- |2010 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|KOR}} Seoul, South Korea |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2010/1015 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2010 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|KOR}} Seoul, South Korea |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2010/1021 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2011 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|KOR}} Seoul, South Korea |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2011/1015 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2011 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|KOR}} Seoul, South Korea |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2011/1021?tab=results |access-date=11 May 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2012 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|JPN}} Wakayama, Japan |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2012/1015 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2013 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|CHN}} Shanghai, China |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2013/1015 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2013 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|CHN}} Shanghai, China |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2013/1021?tab=results |access-date=11 May 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2014 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|KOR}} Suwon, South Korea |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2014/1015 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2014 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|KOR}} Suwon, South Korea |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2014/1021 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2015 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|Singapore}} Singapore |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2015/1015 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2015 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|Singapore}} Singapore |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2015/1021 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2016 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|CHN}} Wuxi, China |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2016/1021 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2017 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|HKG}} Hong Kong, China |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2017/1015 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2017 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|HKG}} Hong Kong, China |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2017/1021 |access-date=11 May 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2018 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|THA}} Bangkok, Thailand |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2018/1015 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2018 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|THA}} Bangkok, Thailand |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2018/1021?tab=results |access-date=11 May 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2019 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|JPN}} Tokyo, Japan |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2019/1021 |access-date=7 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2022 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|KOR}} Seoul, South Korea |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2022/1015 |access-date=27 June 2022 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2022 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|KOR}} Seoul, South Korea |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2022/1021 |access-date=27 June 2022 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |}
===Grand Prix=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !Date ! style="width:17em" |Location ! style="width:12em" |Event !Position |- |2010-02-05 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|HUN}} Budapest, Hungary |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2010/158 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- | rowspan="1" |2010-03-21 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|TUN}} Tunis, Tunisia |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2010/491 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2011-03-05 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|HUN}} Budapest, Hungary |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2011/158 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2012-02-04 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|BUL}} Plovdiv, Bulgaria |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2012/162 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2013-05-18 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|POL}} Warsaw, Poland |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2013/165 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2017-06-02 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|RUS}} Moscow, Russia |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2017/162 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2017-12-15 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|MEX}} Cancún, Mexico |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2018/158 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2018-05-11 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|RUS}} Moscow, Russia |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2018/162 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2022-05-20 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|ITA}} Padua, Italy |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2022/162?tab=results |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |}
===World Cup=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !Date ! style="width:17em" |Location ! style="width:12em" |Event !Position |- |2010-05-22 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|ESP}} Madrid, Spain |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2010/164 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2011-02-18 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|ITA}} Padua, Italy |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2011/163 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2011-03-18 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|RUS}} Moscow, Russia |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2011/156 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2011-06-24 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|USA}} New York City, New York |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2011/474 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- | rowspan="1" |2012-02-17 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|ITA}} Padua, Italy |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2012/163 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2013-03-22 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|RUS}} Moscow, Russia |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2013/156 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2013-04-26 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|GRE}} Athens, Greece |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2013/160 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2014-02-14 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|ITA}} Padua, Italy |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2014/163 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2014-11-21 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|HUN}} Budapest, Hungary |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2015/163 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2015-02-20 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|POL}} Warsaw, Poland |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2015/160 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2015-05-01 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|ESP}} Madrid, Spain |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2015/474 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2016-02-19 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|POL}} Warsaw, Poland |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2016/160 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2016-12-02 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|HUN}} Győr, Hungary |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2017/163 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2017-02-24 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|POL}} Warsaw, Poland |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2017/160 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2018-02-23 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|POL}} Warsaw, Poland |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2018/160 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2020-02-06 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|LUX}} Luxembourg |Individual Men's Sabre | bgcolor="silver" |2nd<ref>{{Cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION – The International Fencing Federation official website |url=http://fie.org/competitions/2020/156 |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=FIE.org}}</ref> |- |2022-05-08 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|ESP}} Madrid, Spain |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{cite web |title=Coupe du Monde par équipes Sable masculino Madrid 8 mayo 2022 |url=https://engarde-service.com/index.php?lang=en&Organisme=rfee&Event=villademadrid22&Compe=sm_equipes |website=engarde-service.com |access-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517075841/https://engarde-service.com/index.php?lang=en&Organisme=rfee&Event=villademadrid22&Compe=sm_equipes |archive-date=17 May 2022 |language=Fr}}</ref> |- |2023-02-12 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|POL}} Warsaw, Poland |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="gold" |1st<ref>{{cite web |title=Coupe du Monde par équipes-results |url=https://fie.org/competition/2023/569/results/ranking/pdf?lang=en |website=fie.org |access-date=5 March 2023 |language=en |date=12 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=COUPE DU MONDE PAR ÉQUIPES (WARSAW)-entries |url=https://fie.org/competition/2023/569/entry/pdf?lang=en |website=fie.org |access-date=5 March 2023 |language=en |date=12 February 2023}}</ref> |- |2023-03-04 | rowspan="1" align="left" |{{flagicon|ITA}} Padua, Italy |Team Men's Sabre | bgcolor="caramel" |3rd<ref>{{cite web |title=Coupe du Monde par équipes-results |url=https://fie.org/competition/2023/758/results/ranking/pdf?lang=en |website=fie.org |access-date=5 March 2023 |language=en |date=4 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=COUPE DU MONDE PAR ÉQUIPES (PADUA)-entries |url=https://fie.org/competition/2023/758/entry/pdf?lang=en |website=fie.org |access-date=5 March 2023 |language=en |date=4 March 2023}}</ref> |}
==Filmography== ===Television shows=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="4" | 2021 | ''Playing Bro'' | rowspan="2"| Cast Member | Season 2 | <ref>{{Cite news |url=https://newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20210817_0001550417&cID=10601&pID=10600 |author=Ahn So-yoon |title='노는브로2', 23일 첫 방송…공식포스터 공개 |trans-title=Playing Bro 2' premieres on the 23rd... Official poster released |work=Newsis |date=18 August 2021 |access-date=18 August 2021 |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=609&aid=0000480980 |author=Kim Myung-mi |title=노는브로2' PD "금의환향 구본길X새 멤버 백지훈 활약 주목 |trans-title='Play Bro 2' PD "Golden Haunting Goo Bon-gil X new member Baek Ji-hoon's activity attention |work=Newsen |publisher=Naver |date=20 August 2021 |access-date=20 August 2021 |language=ko}}</ref> |- | ''Golvengers'' | |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=421&aid=0005679248 |author=Jung Ah-reum |title=[단독] 지진희·조세호·구본길, '손나은 동생' 손새은과 tvN '골벤져스' 출격 |trans-title=[Exclusive] Ji Jin-hee, Jo Se-ho, Koo Bon-gil, 'Son Na-eun's younger sister' Sae-eun Son and tvN's 'Golvengers' sortie |publisher=News 1 |via=Naver |date=25 October 2021 |access-date=25 October 2021 |language=ko}}</ref> |}
==Personal life== Gu earned his master's degree from Kookmin University.<ref>{{cite news |title=국민인! 국민인!! 도쿄 2020 올림픽 펜싱 남자 사브르 금메달 획득 / 스포츠산업대학원 구본길(스포츠산업학과 15) 학생, 김정환(스포츠산업학과 07) 동문 |url=https://cst.kookmin.ac.kr/kookmin/people/1073346 |publisher=Kookmin University |date=30 July 2021 |language=ko}}</ref>
He married flight attendant Park Eun-ju in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=[SC리뷰] 김준호 "♥아내 첫눈에 반해"→구본길 "2살 연상 아내, 클럽서 만나 결혼까지"('돌싱포맨') |url=https://www.chosun.com/entertainments/entertain_photo/2021/09/22/JIKMULLOOAWUXJQIBND4KQNR6Q/ |work=The Chosun Ilbo |date=22 September 2021 |language=ko}}</ref> In November 2022, Gu announced his wife's pregnancy through a television program.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0001527880 |last=Lee |first=Ye-jin |title=펜싱' 구본길, ♥아내 임신 후 겹경사…"월드컵 2관왕, 상승세다" (대한외국인)[종합] |trans-title=Fencing' Gu Bon-gil, ♥ After his wife's pregnancy, double congratulations... "2 World Cup winners, on the rise" (Foreigners in Korea) [Comprehensive] |work=X-ports News |via=Naver |date=23 November 2022 |access-date=10 December 2022 |language=ko}}</ref> His wife gave birth to a son on 6 March 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0001565259&cid=1073787 |last=Lee |first=Na-young |title=어펜져스' 구본길, 결혼 3년만 득남… "반가워 모모야" |trans-title='Avengers' Gu Bon-gil, married for 3 years... "Nice to meet you Momo" |publisher=X-ports News |via=Naver |date=6 March 2023 |access-date=6 March 2023 |language=ko}}</ref>
Despite sharing the same family name and ''bon-gwan'' (Gu clan of Neungseong), Gu is not an immediate relative of singer and actor Gu Bon-seung or the Koo ''chaebol'' family associated with LG Corporation. He and Gu Bon-seung indicated through comments left on one another's official Instagram accounts that they were well aware of the rumors, quipping that it was "an honor" to be mistaken as relatives.<ref>{{cite news |title=남자 사브르 구본길, "구본승과 사촌 아니고, LG랑도 관계 무"..오해 해명('아는 형님') |url=https://www.hankyung.com/news/article/2021081446604 |work=The Korea Economic Daily |date=14 August 2021 |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=구본승 "구본길 선수 아버지냐고? 김부용도 친척이냐고 물어봐" |url=https://www.chosun.com/entertainments/entertain_photo/2021/07/29/UKFQA4PPXB5FPANA4EJ73TQ6FE/ |work=The Chosun Ilbo |date=29 July 2021 |language=ko}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons}} * {{FIE|name=Gu Bongil}} * {{InterSportStats|name=Gu Bon-Gil}} * {{Olympedia|name=Gu Bon-Gil}} * {{Olympics.com|name=Gu Bongil}} * {{2014 Asian Games profile|5123143|Gu Bongil}} * {{2022 Asian Games profile|fencing/athlete-profile-n2016153-gu-bongil|Gu Bongil|archive=20231004171948}} * {{Instagram|gubongil99|구본길}}<!-- per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only -->
{{s-start}} {{s-sports|oly}} {{succession box | before = Yoon Kyung-shin | title = Flagbearer for {{KOR}} | years = Rio de Janeiro 2016 | after = Kim Yeon-koung<br />Hwang Sun-woo }} {{s-end}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Fencing Team Sabre Men}} {{Asian Games Champions Fencing Sabre Men}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gu, Bon-gil}} Category:Living people Category:1989 births Category:Sportspeople from Daegu Category:South Korean male sabre fencers Category:Fencers at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Fencers at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Fencers at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic fencers for South Korea Category:Olympic gold medalists for South Korea Category:Olympic medalists in fencing Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Fencers at the 2010 Asian Games Category:Fencers at the 2014 Asian Games Category:Fencers at the 2018 Asian Games Category:Fencers at the 2022 Asian Games Category:Asian Games gold medalists for South Korea Category:Asian Games silver medalists for South Korea Category:Asian Games gold medalists in fencing Category:Asian Games silver medalists in fencing Category:Medalists at the 2010 Asian Games Category:Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games Category:Medalists at the 2018 Asian Games Category:Medalists at the 2022 Asian Games Category:Summer World University Games medalists in fencing Category:FISU World University Games silver medalists for South Korea Category:FISU World University Games bronze medalists for South Korea Category:Fencers from Seoul Category:South Korean Buddhists Category:Medalists at the 2011 Summer Universiade Category:Medalists at the 2017 Summer Universiade Category:Dong-Eui University alumni Category:World Fencing Championships medalists Category:Fencers at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:21st-century South Korean sportsmen Category:Asian Games fencers for South Korea