Another transformation of Paracanu Choi Yong-beom, who surprised everyone with '10 months after catching No' and selected the opening ceremony rider. "It's the glory of the family."

Aug 28, 2024

Paracanu national team member Choi Yong-beom. Photo courtesy = Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

"It's a family honor. I'm more nervous than when I go to a canoe race."

Choi Yong-beom (27, KL3, Dowon ENC), a member of the national team who will compete in the Paracanu event at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, is honored as the first Paralympic Paracanu player in Korean sports. That's how much responsibility is also heavy.

However, another glorious yet heavy responsibility was placed on this. It is the mission of the representative flag bearer of the Korean Paralympic team. Choi Yong-beom will enter the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games with the Korean national flag at the front of the South Korean team.

The opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympic Games will be held splendidly on the Champs-Elysees street connecting the Arc de Triomphe and Concorde Square, where the Paralympic symbol 'Azitos' is hung, early on the 29th (Korean time). At the opening ceremony, which will draw attention from all over the world, Choi Yong-beom will lead the Korean team and enter confidently. Choi Yong-beom is the face of the Korean para-athletes. It's an honorable position, but the burden is inevitable.

This pressure made even Choi Yong-beom, who made the miracle of winning the Paralympic berth just 10 months after learning 'para canoe', nervous. Choi Yong-beom, who met at the Paris Paralympic Village a day before the opening, was very happy when he heard that he was selected as a flag bearer. I think it's an honor for my family"Even though I've played many games, I'm even more nervous because it's my first time playing a jockey."He expressed his honest feelings.

Paracanu national team member Choi Yong-beom. Photo courtesy = Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Then, why was Choi Yong-beom selected as the representative player of the Korean team. An official from the Korea Sports Association for the Disabled explained, "It means a lot that an athlete who aimed for the Olympics can stand on the Paralympic stage again. The Paralympic Games are a place of opportunity to dream new dreams even after having a disability." "I hope many people with disabilities will not stop challenging themselves by watching the Paralympics," he added.

As such, Choi Yong-beom had to abandon his goal of participating in the Olympics due to his disability, but he did not give in to this and finally achieved his dream of 'Taegeukmark' through new challenges. His Paralympic challenge is a good example of inspiring courage for other disabled people.

Courtesy of the Korean Sports Council for the Disabled

Choi Yong-beom, who was originally a non-disabled canoeist, had to amputate his left leg in a car accident in March 2022. He said, `I used to go for the national flag even when I was a non-disabled person, but I always used to be eliminated from the national team unfortunately.' In the meantime, he suffered an amputation. In fact, his career seemed to be over.

However, Choi Yong-beom took the oar again. Coach Joo Jong-kwan, who was a teacher during Buyeo Middle School, came to Choi Yong-beom, who was in a disappointment. He introduced Choi Yong-beom to 'Farah Canoe' and recommended exercising again. Choi Yong-beom calls such coach Joo "fatherly". Choi Yong-beom said "After getting hurt, he came to me first at a difficult moment and helped me to work out again, letting me know that there is a sport called para canoe."

It was never easy to get back on board with one leg lost. He was also completely defeated in practice games with non-disabled middle school students. His pride fell to the bottom, but as a result, he became more competitive.

Choi Yong-beom comforted Coach Joo "It hasn't been long since he started working out again, so if you pull it up slowly, you'll be fine enough." I was able to regain my confidence because of this."

After that, Choi was no longer disappointed. As a result, he won the right to participate in the Paralympics just 10 months after starting a new Farah canoe. Choi Yong-beom said, "I had a big accident two years ago and after a year of rehabilitation, I couldn't imagine myself participating in the Paralympics."I'm grateful to everyone who helped me, and I worked hard to prepare it."," he said confidently.

Paracanu national team member Choi Yong-beom. Photo courtesy = Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Of course, Choi Yong-beom's experience as a non-disabled player also played a major role in the background of being able to participate in the Paralympics after 10 months of being a member of the national team. Choi Yong-beom said, "I think I was able to adapt quickly because I had a sense of working out in the past"Of course, it wasn't easy. I thought of the boat I rode when I was a non-disabled person, but the balance was not as good as I thought. At first, I couldn't get used to it, so I fell into the water a few times."

After all, the honor of being the first Paralympic Paracanu player in Korea and the athlete of the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games is the result of Choi Yong-beom's persistent challenge.

At the opening ceremony on the 29th, Choi will appear wearing a navy jacket made by Spao, which sponsored the Paralympic team's uniforms, a gold leaf embroidery with Oh Jo-ryong engraved on Taejo Lee Seong-gye's Gonryongpo, and a state (red hat) worn by high-ranking officials of the Joseon Dynasty. It is an outfit that expresses Korea's historical authority and the outstanding skills of the players at the same time.

Choi Yong-beom said, `I've prepared a lot of physical parts so far, so I think if I focus on what I've prepared, I'll get good results. The goal will be the same, but it's a gold medal."

Paris (France) = Reporter Lee Won-man wman@sportschosun.com

wman@sportschosun.com