'A hole in weight class' South Korea is on the verge of collapse, and hopes to revive with five medals of emotion

Aug 04, 2024

The judo team athletes rejoice after winning a bronze medal in the judo mixed team event at the Paris Olympics on the 4th (Korea time). Photo = International Judo Federation (IJF)

The Korean judo team, which was on the verge of collapse, raised hopes for a generational change with five medals.

The judo team will complete the 2024 Paris Olympics schedule and return home via Incheon International Airport on the 5th (Korea time). The national team finished the tournament with five medals (silver 2, bronze 3) by beating Germany 4-3 in the bronze medal match in the mixed team event held at the Chandmars Arena in Paris on the 4th.

In particular, the bronze medal in the mixed team event on the last day was the result of fighting spirit and perseverance. The national team did not compete in the men's 73kg class and the women's 70kg class among the six men's and women's weight classes in this competition. Therefore, An Baul (Namyangju City Hall) in the men's 66kg class and Kim Ji-soo (Gyeongbuk Sports Council) in the women's 63kg class were at a disadvantage against high-class players.

Lee Joon-hwan (Yongin University) of men's 81kg also faced high-class players on behalf of Han Joo-yeop (High1), and Kim Min-jong (Yangpyeong County Office), a silver medalist of men's 100kg or higher, also showed his fighting spirit in the team event with a knee ligament injury in the individual final.

South Korean athletes, who beat Germany to win bronze medals in the judo mixed team event for the 2024 Paris Olympics, pose in front of the camera on the 3rd (local time) at the Chandmars Stadium in Paris. Yonhap News

An Paul (Namyangju City Hall)'s fighting spirit stood out in the team event. The national team, which was leading 3-1 in the bronze medal match, could finish the match with one more winner. However, An Baul and Kim Ji-soo, who faced high-ranking players, had a close game, but lost half and lost one game, allowing a 3-3 tie.

the final game in the run-up to victory. As a result of the draw, the men's 73kg class was decided as the last game, and another 66kg class An Baul had to step up. An'Baul has already exhausted his stamina by playing extra time in the previous games. But he didn't give up his tenacity until the end. After a persistent match, the opponent received three maps and won a foul, allowing the entire bronze medal to be as impressive as the gold medal. It was even more brilliant because it was a team medal.

South Korea's An'Baul is set for his final match against Germany in the bronze medal match for the judo mixed team at the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Chandmars Stadium in Paris, France. Yonhap News

Ahead of the Paris Olympics, the judo team was feeling a sense of crisis. Out of the seven individual male and female weight classes, they failed to qualify for the event in a total of three weight classes. In particular, it was a shock that there were no athletes in the men's 73kg class and the men's 100kg class. This is the weight class in which Ahn Chang-rim (73kg class) won a bronze medal and Jo Gu-ham (100kg class) won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the very previous competition. The 100kg class is not a strong event, but the 73kg class is one of the key weight classes in which Lee Won-hee won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and Wang Ki-chun won the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, this time, he failed to secure the right to participate, causing a sense of crisis that he failed to change the generation.

A game between Korean Kim Min-jong and French Teddy Liner in the men's 100kg or higher judo final was held at the Chandemars Arena in Paris, France on the 2nd (Korea time). Kim Min-jong won the silver medal after losing to French Teddy Linere. South Korean Kim Min-jong poses with a silver medal around his neck. Paris (France) = Reporter Chung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.8.2/

But when I opened the lid, I saw hope in this Olympics. Heo Mi-mi (Gyeongbuk Sports Council), a naturalized Korean-born Japanese player, won a silver medal in women's judo, which suffered the humiliation of the Tokyo Games 'No Medal', while Kim Ha-yoon, a women's 78kg or higher, also won a valuable bronze medal. Kim Min-jong, who was ranked No. 1 in the world by winning the world championship, lost to French judo hero Teddy Linere in the final, but won a silver medal, an all-time record in the unlimited class. In addition, Lee Joon-hwan, the men's 81-kg bronze medalist, also won a bronze medal.

Hummi won a valuable silver medal in the women's judo 57kg held at the Chandmars Arena in Paris on the 30th (Korea time). Hur Mi-mi is taking a selfie with Canada's Deguchi, bronze medal Japan's Funakubo and France's Sizike. Paris (France) = Reporter Chung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.7.30/

There was no gold medal I expected. It is the third consecutive gold medal since the 2012 London Olympics, but it has been as impressive a journey for the judo team as the gold medal. Kim Won-jin and An Baul have declared their last Olympics, but major players such as Kim Min-jong, Heo Mi-mi, Kim Ha-yoon and Lee Jun-hwan are all in their early 20s and can spend their prime time in the future.

It has further raised expectations for the next Olympics. Although Korea's increasingly weak international competitiveness in judo and the depletion of new prospects have not yet completely escaped the crisis, it was Paris that confirmed hope again with the appearance of new pillar players equipped with fighting spirit and determination.

youll@sportschosun.com