'Faker of the Boccian world'Jeong Ho-won wins the gold medal in the individual event. The third national anthem rang in Paris

Sep 03, 2024

Courtesy of the Korean Sports Council for the Disabled

'Korea Boccia' has proved once again the world's strongest, setting an unprecedented milestone of winning gold medals for 10 consecutive times at the Paralympics.

Since the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, it has given the Korean team the gold medal for 36 years. He also did it at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Jung Ho-won (38, Gangwon-do Provincial Sports Council for the Disabled) of the Boccia National Team won the gold medal in the individual competition (sports grade BC3). He overwhelmed his opponent throughout the game and drew a down-level 'GOAT'.

In the final of the Boccia Men's Individual Competition (BC3) held at South Paris Arena 1 in Paris, France early on the 3rd (Korea time), Jung Ho-won beat Australia's Daniel Michel by a combined score of 5-2 (3-0 1-00-2 1-0) at the end of the 3rd (Korea time).

Boccia coach Lim Kwang-taek and coach Kim Seung-gyeom rinse off Jung Ho-won, who won the gold medal in the Boccia individual match held at Erana 1 in South Paris, France on the 3rd. Presented by the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

Coach Kim Seung-gyeom, who served as a match partner with Boccia national team coach Lim Kwang-taek, who instructed the operation next to the stadium and shouted fighting at the same time, lifted Jung Ho-won from his wheelchair and rinsed him. Coach Lim and coach Kim rolled to the side holding Jung Ho-won, perhaps because they were struggling after rinsing your turn. The three hugged on the floor as they were and rejoiced like children.

It is South Korea's third gold medal at the Paris Paralympics. In shooting, Cho Jung-du (P1 men's 10m air pistol sports grade SH1) and Park Jin-ho (R1 men's 10m air rifle sports grade SH1) gave the Korean team the gold medal in turn.

Courtesy of the Korean Sports Council for the Disabled

It's the first time in the boccia event. In particular, Chung Ho-won's gold medal led South Korea's Boccia to win 10 consecutive Paralympics gold medals. Designed for people with cerebral palsy, boccia was adopted as an official sport at the 1984 New York-Stockmanderville Paralympics, and South Korea harvested its first gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Paralympics. And he has continued his gold medal streak for nine consecutive years until the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Jung Ho-won has a large stake among them. Three gold medals in pairs at the 2008 Beijing Games, individual at the 2016 Rio Games and pairs at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Since Boccia has won a total of 10 gold medals in nine Paralympics so far, Jung Ho-won was alone in charge of 30%. Added another gold medal to this.

Jung Ho-won won a total of seven medals (four gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze) at the Paralympics, including the game. In addition, they won the World Championship and the Asian Para Games (Asian Games for the Disabled). It has maintained its No. 1 ranking in the world for a long time. It is worth calling 'GOAT' of Boccian descent or 'Pocian Faker'.

Jung Ho-won suffered brain lesions from a fall accident when he was a child. He started Boccia in 1998 when he was a middle school student and ranked first in the 2002 Busan Asia-Pacific Para Games, marking the beginning of the legend. Since then, Jung Ho-won has played the ace role of South Korea's Boccia in various international competitions.

Jung Ho-won, who won the gold medal in the individual event at the Paris Paralympics, seeks his second gold medal again with Kang Sun-hee (47, KEPCO KPS). It's worth looking forward to winning the Korean team's first two titles.

wman@sportschosun.com