Career
Kim began fencing at age 13 as a foil fencer, but converted to sabre in high school at age 16 in 2004. In February 2012, Kim reached the semifinals at the Orléans Grand Prix, her first international tournament of the 2012 season. Next month, Kim reached her first individual sabre final at the Antalya World Cup in Turkey.
Her success in these tournaments increased her Foundation for International Education ranking to 5th before the start of the 2012 Olympics.
2012 Olympics
Kim competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London capturing the gold medal in the women"s individual sabre event. Largely regarded as the underdog by both competitors and her teammates, she came back from a 12–5 deficit against Zagunis to advance into the finals.
Kim asserted her dominance early in the contest, with her opponent having little say in the outcome of the first period with an 8–5 triumph for Kim.