How did a blind archer set a world record at the Olympics?

Im Dong Hyun of South Korea can barely read a newspaper, but he can hit a bullseye with a bow and arrow from 70 meters away

Im Dong Hyun
(Image credit: Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

On Friday, South Korea's Im Dong Hyun, who is legally blind, set the first world record of the London Olympics, notching a score of 699 out of a possible 720 in the first round of the men's archery contest. It's no fluke — the record he broke was his own and, at previous Olympics in Beijing and Athens, Im helped South Korea's archery team capture gold medals. He's now the favorite to win the individual gold in London, as he progresses to one-on-one knockout rounds. Here, a guide to Im's seemingly impossible feat:

How bad is his sight?

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