PARIS – South Korean taekwondo competitor Lee Da-bin concluded her Olympic career with a satisfying bronze medal victory in the women's +67-kilogram event at the Paris Olympics, marking a significant turnaround from her silver medal performance in Tokyo three years ago.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the win against Germany's Lorena Brandl at the Grand Palais not only secured her the bronze medal but also provided a sense of redemption. "I came here with the goal of winning the gold medal. Although I didn't accomplish that, it's still an honor to win this bronze medal. The fact that it's my second straight medal doubles that pleasure," Lee explained. Unlike in Tokyo, where she ended the Games with a loss, this time she was able to celebrate a win and proudly represent her country.
Lee, aged 27, has now become one of the few South Korean taekwondo athletes to win multiple Olympic medals, joining a prestigious group. "It's difficult just to compete at two Olympic Games. It means a lot to me that I've won two medals," she said, expressing both pride and a hint of regret for not capturing gold this time around.
Her Olympic journey was inspired by the successes of fellow South Koreans at the Games, including first-time gold medalists Park Tae-joon and Kim Yu-jin. "If they could do so well in their first Olympics, I felt I could do better because this was my second Olympics," Lee remarked, highlighting her competitive spirit.
However, Lee also confirmed that Paris would be her last Olympic appearance, citing physical challenges and her satisfaction with her career achievements despite not securing an Olympic gold. "I get hurt all the time. I don't think my body will hold up until the next Olympics," she stated, acknowledging the physical toll of her sport. Despite this, Lee looked forward to the future of taekwondo in South Korea, confident in the continued emergence of talented athletes through fair and effective national team trials.