It takes more than gold to make a hero

Many of London's medallists will see success rewarded with money and glory in their home countries, but just as many have won hearts and lifted spirits with their determination, dignity or sheer hard luck.(Reuters)

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South Korea's Yang Hak-seon took over the sports pages not only for winning South Korea's first gymnastics gold, with a vault that he invented, but also because it emerged that he had used his training money to support his family, so poor that they had for a while lived in a greenhouse on a farm. His reward? 100 million won from his federation, and ramen noodles for life from a sponsor.
South Korea's Yang Hak-seon took over the sports pages not only for winning South Korea's first gymnastics gold, with a vault that he invented, but also because it emerged that he had used his training money to support his family, so poor that they had for a while lived in a greenhouse on a farm. His reward? 100 million won from his federation, and ramen noodles for life from a sponsor.