PARIS — In a belated ceremony held near the Eiffel Tower, former South Korean weightlifter Jeon Sang-guen was awarded a bronze medal from the 2012 London Olympics, 12 years after the event. The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris, where Jeon, now 43, was honored for his performance in the men's +105-kilogram event. Originally finishing fourth, Jeon's upgrade to bronze came after the disqualification of the previous medalist due to doping.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Jeon's medal reallocation was approved in March of this year following the stripping of the bronze from Russian weightlifter Ruslan Albegov for doping violations. During the ceremony, Jeon, dressed in a black suit, expressed mixed emotions about receiving his medal so many years after his last Olympic competition. He now works at the Korea Minting, Security Printing and ID Card Operating Corp (KOMSCO), having taken a more administrative role after coaching at KOMSCO's corporate team until its disbandment in 2014.
Jeon shared his acceptance of the delayed recognition, focusing on the positive impact of stringent doping measures in sports. As a South Korean Olympic medalist, he began receiving a monthly pension in April, although the payments are not retroactive. Despite the financial aspect, Jeon emphasized his modest view towards the late financial benefits, echoing a sentiment of savings for retirement as suggested by his wife. His personal life also shone through as he mentioned his daughter Hee-soo, a high school weightlifter, who he said was unimpressed by his athletic past but whom he deeply respects.
This ceremony marked a significant moment not only for Jeon but also for other South Korean athletes affected by doping disqualifications. Among them are Jang Mi-ran, a former Olympic gold medalist and current vice sports minister, who is set to receive her bronze medal for the women’s +75kg event from the 2012 Games. Another athlete, Kim Min-jae, was awarded a silver medal in 2019 for the men's 94kg class, illustrating a broader issue of doping in sports and its impact on athletes' careers.