[People人] God of Shooting and Queen of Volleyball, Ignite the 'Last Flame' in Tokyo

Jin Jong-oh Focuses on Regaining Match Sense by Shooting 300 Shots Daily
Kim Yeon-koung Declares Determined Will to Return as Late as Possible, United as One National Team

[Image source=Yonhap News]

They say no one can beat age. The 'God of Shooting' and the 'Volleyball Empress' are no exceptions. Jin Jong-oh is the oldest athlete in the South Korean delegation at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He is 42 years old. When he won the silver medal in the men's 50m pistol at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the swimming prodigy Lee Eun-ji (15, Oryun Middle School) had not even been born. Kim Yeon-koung is 33 years old, considered one of the older players on the volleyball court.

A body that has been through many trials is far from its prime. Jin Jong-oh faced many ups and downs in securing his Olympic spot. He was ranked 7th (2313 points) after the 4th round in the men's 10m air pistol selection competition. Both his game sense and physical rhythm were disrupted. Another team's coach subtly suggested retirement. Jin Jong-oh's pride was hurt. "I complained that it was all over. The score difference was too big. Honestly, I thought about giving up."

When he gathered his tangled mind and stepped up to the shooting stand, a turnaround occurred. In the final 5th round, he scored 585 points. The combined result was a tie for 2nd place (2898 points) with Han Seung-woo (Changwon City Hall). The top two receive the Taeguk mark (national team selection). In case of a tie, priority goes to the athlete who secured an Olympic quota at an international competition. Having secured an Olympic quota at the 2018 Changwon World Championships, Jin Jong-oh dramatically booked his ticket to Tokyo.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Yeon-koung's process of securing an Olympic spot was also not smooth. The national team lost 2-3 to Russia in the final round of the 2019 continental qualifiers. They won the first and second sets consecutively and reached 20 points in the third set but suffered a comeback defeat. The blocking by Russia, whose average height was 8 cm taller, quickly took away the initiative. Kim Yeon-koung was frustrated by the failure to qualify directly for the Olympics. "If I had done better, there would have been a better result... I was shaken because I thought we had already won. I still felt we were lacking a lot. Next time, I will do my best until the end."

There was no second mistake. In January last year, Kim Yeon-koung showed fighting spirit while taking painkillers in the Asian continental qualifiers where one Olympic ticket was at stake. Especially in the final against Thailand, she clutched her torn abdominal muscles and scored 22 points, leading to a 3-0 sweep. This is her third Olympic appearance. She has yet to win a medal. The bronze medal won by senior players, who are like mothers to her, at the 1976 Montreal Olympics remains the first and last.

Kim Yeon-koung has been expected to be the right person to fulfill this long-cherished wish. The 2012 London Olympics, when she was at her peak, was a golden opportunity. With her agile movements, she led the national team to the semifinals for the first time in 36 years. She was also selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) with a record-breaking highest score (207 points). However, the national team swallowed disappointment after losing to Japan in the bronze medal match. At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, they only reached the quarterfinals.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This time, the national team is considered weaker. Key players Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young were excluded due to past school violence. Kang So-hwi, who led GS Caltex to a triple crown, was absent due to surgery on her right ankle. Perhaps because of this reality, Kim Yeon-koung stated that passing the group stage is the primary goal rather than winning a medal. "We have to go to the venue and open the lid. I hope to return to Korea as late as possible. I will give it my all."

Her determined will is uniting the team. Stefano Lavarini, the volleyball national team coach from Italy, praised her as "Korea's treasure." "She is not just a captain. With charisma, skill, and friendliness, she brings the whole team together." He is confident that if Kim Yeon-koung, who plays various roles, holds the center and the team counters with solid organization, any team can be challenged. Kim Yeon-koung has long been a pillar. "(I) understand the importance (of the Olympics) well. There is considerable interest. I will trust myself accordingly."

Jin Jong-oh, participating in his fifth Olympics, is a bit more relaxed. On the 18th, as he left Narita International Airport in Japan, he reassured other athletes' families. "Many families in Korea worry about the athletes participating in the Olympics, but (following quarantine rules) we are doing well, so it should be okay."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

So far, he has won six Olympic medals: four gold and two silver. Adding this time would break the record for the most medals by a Korean athlete, surpassing archer Kim Soo-nyung (4 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze). Jin Jong-oh said, "It would be a lie if I said I have no greed," but added, "I want to let go of that feeling and focus to achieve good results." Preparation is almost complete. Even before being selected for the national team, he recovered his competitive sense by shooting 300 rounds daily. He also strengthened his stamina through weight training to reduce fatigue associated with being over forty. "My condition is good. My score is 2% short, so I hope that improves just a bit."

The 50m pistol event, in which he achieved three consecutive Olympic golds, was discontinued due to the introduction of mixed team events. This is not a big problem. The 10m air pistol event he is competing in this time is the one in which he won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and gold at the 2012 London Olympics. Jin Jong-oh confidently said, "Only the bullets are different, but there is no problem." The competition will be held on the day after the opening (24th). It is an opportunity to boost the morale of the South Korean delegation ahead of the decisive battle. "I want to meet the expectations around me. With only a few days left, I will try to coordinate well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.