High Jumper Woo Sang-hyeok Wins Korea's First World Athletics Championship Silver Medal... "Today Is a Historic Day" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] High jump star Woo Sang-hyeok (26, Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps) achieved a historic feat by winning South Korea's first-ever silver medal at the World Athletics Championships.

On the 19th (Korean time), Woo Sang-hyeok cleared 2.35 meters in the men's high jump final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA, securing second place.

The first place was claimed by Mutaz Essa Barshim (31, Qatar), the world's top high jumper, who successfully cleared 2.37 meters. Barshim achieved his third consecutive World Championship title, setting the highest record in men's high jump history.

After the competition, Woo Sang-hyeok expressed in a media interview, "Today is a historic day," showing his joy openly. However, he also said, "I regret that my performance was somewhat unsteady, such as going to the third attempt at 2.33 meters. I acknowledge that Barshim was in better condition," promising to aim higher in the future.

During the event, after Barshim succeeded at 2.37 meters on his first attempt, Woo raised the bar to 2.39 meters to challenge him but failed after two attempts. Woo's final record was 2.35 meters.

Although Woo Sang-hyeok could not surpass Barshim, he left an unforgettable mark in Korean sports history, especially in athletics. Among Korean athletes, only Kim Hyun-seop won a medal at the outdoor World Athletics Championships, earning bronze in the 20km race walk in Daegu in 2011.

Woo Sang-hyeok's recent achievement surpasses Kim Hyun-seop's record, marking the best performance in Korean athletics history at the World Championships.

Standing 188 cm tall, Woo Sang-hyeok maintained a weight of 65?66 kg through diet management while preparing for this competition.

In a media interview, Woo stated, "This is just the beginning. I will work harder to create an even more historic day by winning a gold medal."

Currently serving in the military (sergeant), Woo Sang-hyeok is scheduled to be discharged in September. He plans to participate in the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, in March next year, the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in August, the Paris Olympics in July 2024, and the World Championships in Tokyo in 2025.

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