2024-07-23 15:31:08
Kim Min-jong (23, Yangpyeong County Office), the star of the Korean judo heavyweight division competing in the ‘2024 Paris Olympics’, expressed his determination to “do my best and do everything without regrets.”
In an interview released on the official website of the Paris Olympics on the 23rd (Korean time), when asked about his goal, Kim Min-jong said, “Of course, a gold medal,” but added, “I try not to talk about medals carelessly.”
Kim Min-jong won a gold medal at the 2024 International Judo Federation (IJF) World Judo Championships held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last May. It was the first feat by a Korean athlete in 39 years since Cho Yong-cheol, the current president of the Korea Judo Association, in 1985.
Kim Min-jong looked back calmly, saying, “I thought of the World Championships as a competition to gain experience and learn from before the Paris Olympics, so I still have no worries.”
He continued, “I also found out that it was my first win in 39 years because people around me told me about it. However, I had reached the finals of all four previous competitions but lost all of them, so I think it was a valuable experience because I was able to break that and gain confidence.”
There are many bigger fighters than Kim Min-jong in the super heavyweight division. This is also the reason why it is harder to stand on the podium compared to other weight classes. However, Kim Min-jong enjoys this situation.
He said, “I tend to do better when I meet someone who is good at it. Even if I lose, I have the confidence to push through with the mindset that it is a win-win.”
![Judo Kim Min-jong: “My goal is a gold medal, I will do my best without regrets”[올림픽]](https://dimg.donga.com/wps/NEWS/IMAGE/2024/07/23/126067122.2.jpg "Judo Kim Min-jong: “My goal is a gold medal, I will do my best without regrets”[올림픽]")
When asked if he had ever thought about changing weight classes to win a medal, he answered, “I’ve always competed in the plus weight class since elementary school, so I’ve never thought about that. Rather, I’ve always approached it with the mindset of becoming the first in this weight class.”
Compared to foreign players, he also has clear advantages. Kim Min-jong said, “I am short, but I am not lacking in strength and I am also fast. Since I was young, I was fast even though I weighed a lot. I think my strengths are effective because there are many slow and heavy players in the heavyweight division.” He explained, “However, there are times when I try to do things hastily or get excited, so I am trying to improve this part.”
For Kim Min-jong, the Paris Games is his second Olympics. In his first appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he lost to Hisayoshi Harasawa (Japan), who was ranked second in the world at the time, in the round of 16.
Kim Min-jong looked back on the Tokyo Games, saying, “At the time, I was young and inexperienced, so I was too enthusiastic. As a result, I made mistakes and the game didn’t go well.”
He continued, “I tried hard to empty myself after that, and I thought I shouldn’t repeat the mistakes I made at the last Olympics. I’m still doing my best as I usually do, and I’m trying to stay calm and maintain my condition without intentionally adding or subtracting anything,” showing his firm determination.
(Seoul = News 1)
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2024-07-23 15:31:08