'The heaviest medal in 40 years!' Kim Min-jong advanced to the final + secured a silver medal...'Il-Judo Supernova'Attack a Win'
Aug 03, 2024
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Kim Min-jong won a game against Japan's Tatsuru Saito in the semifinals of the men's 100kg or more judo at the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Chandmars Stadium in Paris, France on the 2nd (Korea time). Kim Min-jong, who advanced to the final, secured a silver medal. Kim Min-jong succeeded in winning the first men's heavyweight medal in 40 years since Cho Yong-chul, who won the bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
His opponent in the semifinals was Saito. Saito is the son of Hitoshi Saito, who won two consecutive titles in Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988. Kim Min-jong defied Japan's pride with his great performance. Two minutes and 45 seconds into the game, he won a piggyback ride and advanced to the final.
Kim Min-jong passed the round of 32 earlier with a bye, followed by a round win over Ibrahim Tataroglu (Turkiye) in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, he won half of the game by walking on a thigh to Ushangi Kokauri (Azerbaijan).
Kim Min-jong is the hope of Korean judo in this tournament. He is considered the leading candidate for gold medal as the world No. 1 and the Olympics No. 1. Kim won the gold medal at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in May. It was the first time in 39 years that a South Korean player won a gold medal in the world championship's highest weight class since Cho Yong-chul, the current chairman of the Korean Judo Association, in 1985.
Judo men's 100kg or more is called the exclusive property of Western players. The weight class has no weight limit, so it is advantageous for Western players with good physique and strength to perform well. Korean Judo has never won a gold medal in men's highest weight class in Olympic history. Japan, which swept nine gold medals in judo at the Tokyo Olympics, also failed to use its strength in the men's 100kg or higher class. I didn't even get a medal.
Kim Min-jong dreams of a pleasant rebellion in Paris. In the last Tokyo competition, he was eliminated from the round of 16 due to poor training due to COVID-19. Kim Min-jong, desperate, left for Paris and endured a hard and arduous training that made me wonder if the sky would be moved. I wonder if heaven will present something now." Kim Min-jong is determined to win Korea's first Olympic gold medal in judo in 12 years. There is only one foot left in the dream.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
