hankyoreh

The 2024 Paris Olympics came to a close on Aug. 12. While the Games may be over, Team Korea is already looking forward to the challenges that await them at the next Summer Olympics. From top to bottom are high jumper Woo Sang-hyeok, rifle shooter Ban Hyo-jin, and the medalists from South Korea, North Korea and China for mixed doubles table tennis. (Kang Chang-kwang/Hankyoreh; pool photo)

The 2024 Paris Olympics ended with an official closing ceremony on Monday. The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee had set a goal of winning five gold medals and 15 medals in total. Korean athletes surpassed this goal by far, bringing home the gold 13 times alongside nine silver medals and 10 bronze medals. These athletes converted the question marks surrounding them into exclamation points. 

Fittingly enough, many of the athletes who led the South Korean charge held guns, swords and bows. Athletes in shooting, fencing and archery events secured 10 gold medals. Kim Woo-jin won medals in the individual, mixed, and group events, securing five gold medals throughout his career. This makes him the most decorated South Korean Olympian. Ban Hyo-jin, 16, became the country’s youngest gold medalist by winning the 10-meter air gun event. She also secured the country’s 100th gold medal to date. 

Even athletes that did not win medals still shone with glory. High jumper Woo Sang-hyeok, whose signature smile earned him the nickname “Smile Jumper,” cried after placing seventh in his event. His tears weren’t of sadness. They were tears of gratitude toward his coach, Kim Do-gyun, who encouraged Woo through times of desperation. 

Although inter-Korean tensions are at a high point, we saw a heartwarming scene involving athletes from both sides of the 38th parallel. Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin, who won the bronze medal for mixed doubles table tennis, posed for a selfie with their competitors from North Korea (silver) and China (gold), a scene that many fans around the world called “the true Olympic spirit.” 

South Korea’s Im Ae-ji and North Korea’s Pang Chol-mi both won bronze medals in the 54 kg women’s boxing event. After the event, reporters asked Im if she and Pang embraced after their performances. Im responded, “I’ll keep that one a secret,” and Pang simply smiled. 

After moments of tears, laughter, and intense emotion, we await the next Olympic Games, four years ahead. The 2028 Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles, USA.

By Jang Pill-su, staff reporter; Kim Yang-hee, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]