"On the day we meet again, let's talk a lot" Kim Jung-nam, the shooting leader, said goodbye to his father in heaven

Sep 04, 2024

Kim Jung-nam (far right), who won the bronze medal in the final round of the P1 mixed 25-meter pistol SH1 at the 2024 Paris Paralympics shooting at Chatoru Shooting Center in France on the night of the 2nd (Korea time), is taking a commemorative photo with the gold and silver medalists who competed for medals. Unlike other players who smile broadly, Kim Jung-nam only has a light smile. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

"Father, I'm sorry I'm too late. Let's talk a lot when we meet again."

On the 2nd (Korean time), another medal was reported to the South Korean team participating in the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Kim Jung-nam (46, BDH Paras), who competed in the 25-meter pistol SH1 event, won the bronze medal in the final round. It was the fifth medal in shooting, which was revived as a `Paradise Sonja event' in Paris for a new renaissance.

Kim Jung-nam, who failed to reach the final due to poor performance in the men's 10-meter air pistol held earlier. This slump was a bit of a surprise because he was evaluated as having sufficient competitiveness in medals even in the 10m. There was another strange thing. After winning the bronze medal, Kim Jung-nam said, `I hope I'm happy, but I don't think I'm just happy.' At the time, it was believed that it was because of the regret of missing the gold medal.

However, there were other reasons for Kim's comment. And this is also why it explains the failure of the final run in the first event, the 10m air pistol.

I had to hear about my father's statue in another country, and I couldn't even go to the funeral. I had to suffer as if the sky were collapsing.

So it was sluggish, and I couldn't just rejoice. Kim Jung-nam said, "The one you kept deep in your heart after the lingering feeling of winning the bronze medal subsided? The ㉯?I told you what was going on. "My father passed away suddenly a week ago. I couldn't even watch the funeral because I was in Paris. It was sad and hard."

It was a shocking story. After hearing that, I could understand the real reason for Kim's unexpected slump and rebound, and the acceptance speech that `I'm not very happy.'

Kim Jung-nam (far right), who won the bronze medal in the final round of the P1 mixed 25-meter pistol SH1 at the 2024 Paris Paralympics shooting at Chattoru Shooting Center in France on the night of the 2nd (Korea time), is smiling lightly as he holds the bronze medal and the Paralympic mascot Freese doll. Kim Jong-nam suffered his father's injury just days before the opening of the Paralympics. However, he was unable to return home.

Courtesy of the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

The shooting team, which participated in the Paris Paralympics, first arrived in France on August 14, two weeks before the opening of the tournament, to prepare a pre-camp and focus on training to boost their performance to the best. In particular, the Chatoru area, where the game will be held, is a rural area about 270km away from Paris. The Korean Sports Association for the Disabled has set up a separate athletes' village for the shooting team here in consideration of travel time.

Kim, who was focusing on training here, heard the sad news from South Korea just days before the opening of the Paralympics. News that his father, who was battling the disease, died. Kim Jung-nam, the eldest son, deservedly served as the 喪 of the funeral, but he couldn't go to Korea.

Courtesy of the Korean Sports Council for the Disabled

Kim Jung-nam died suddenly. There was nothing I could do about France. I just had mixed feelings. I was able to hold my father's funeral because I had a younger brother." People around him consoled Kim Jong-nam and cared for him to give him the most help he could. In particular, Bae Dong-hyun, chairman of the BDH Foundation, who created BDH Paras, the head of the team and Kim Jung-nam's team, actually helped greatly. All of their employees were dispatched to a funeral hall in Naju, Jeollanam-do, and they were responsible for all the funerals. Chung Jin-wan, chairman of the Korea Sports Council, also comforted Kim Jung-nam himself and touched his heart.

Kim Jung-nam "I had no choice but to leave the funeral to my younger brother, but I couldn't make up my mind at all. Because of this, the worst performance came after starting shooting from the 10m air pistol. It was hard." However, Kim Jung-nam took to the Paralympic stage again, hiding his heart-wrenching pain. Because I wanted to win a medal and dedicate it to my father in heaven. He also pledged to win a medal in return for those who comforted him and helped him.

It was a bronze medal that was comparable to the gold medal made in that way. Kim Jung-nam was overwhelmed. I think I paid back a little bit to Mr. Bae"Now I can go to greet my father with a medal. That's a relief." He said "We'll see each other again someday. I want to meet you as a proud son and talk a lot"I was missing my father.

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

wman@sportschosun.com