'Hermimi, Descendant of Independence Activist Who Renounced Japanese Citizenship, Wins Korea's First Judo Medal [Paris Olympics]'

Silver Medal in Women's 57kg Final After Losing to Deguchi
Judo Rising Star Who Renounced Japanese Citizenship to Become Korean

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Heo Mimi (Gyeongbuk Sports Council, world ranking 3rd), who renounced her Japanese nationality and donned the Taeguk mark, won a valuable silver medal. On the 29th (local time), at the 2024 Paris Olympic Judo Women's 57kg final held at the Champ de Mars arena in Paris, France, she lost by penalty to world number one Krista Deguchi (Canada).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Heo Mimi's repeated attempts at the seoi nage from the beginning were consistently blocked, resulting in failure to score. Rather, she received her third shido in the golden score and had to leave the mat regretfully. She had previously defeated Deguchi and won the championship at the World Championships in May. However, this time she had to swallow her disappointment due to her opponent's effective defense.

Although she failed to win the gold medal, Korean judo secured its first medal in this tournament. It is the first time in 8 years since Jeong Bo-gyeong won the silver medal in the women's 48kg category at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics that Korean women's judo has earned a silver medal at the Olympics. At the 2020 Tokyo Games, they ended without any medals.

Heo Mimi was born in 2002 to a Korean father and a Japanese mother. She renounced her Japanese nationality in 2021 and joined the Gyeongbuk Sports Council judo team, and from the following year, she wore the Taeguk mark. She followed the last will of her grandmother, who lived as a Korean in Japan.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

She is also the fifth-generation descendant of independence activist Heo Seok (1857?1920), who was imprisoned for posting anti-Japanese leaflets during the Japanese colonial period. Heo was sentenced to one year in prison and passed away three days after his release. In 1991, he was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Patriotic Medal.

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