PARIS - South Korean shuttler Kim Won-ho clinched his first Olympic medal, a silver in mixed doubles badminton at the Paris Games, marking a significant stride in emerging from the long shadow cast by his mother, Gil Young-ah, a three-time Olympic medalist.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim and his partner Jeong Na-eun faced a challenging match against world leaders Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong of China, losing 2-0 with scores of 21-8 and 21-11 in the final held at La Chapelle Arena. The duo's performance, however, earned South Korea its first Olympic medal in mixed doubles badminton since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Kim's journey in badminton has been heavily influenced by his mother, Gil Young-ah, who secured multiple Olympic medals in the 1990s, including a historic mixed doubles gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Kim shared that his mother always encouraged him to forge his own path in the sport, hoping that one day she would be recognized as "Kim Won-ho's mother" rather than him being known simply as her son.
Despite not capturing gold, Kim remains optimistic about his future in badminton, expressing a newfound understanding of the dedication required to compete at the highest level. He admitted the defeat was a "rude wakeup call" but also a valuable learning experience that will influence his training and competitive mindset going forward.
Jeong Na-eun, Kim's partner, dedicated her first Olympic medal to her late mother, who had saved Jeong's contact in her phone as "Olympic gold medalist Jeong Na-eun." Jeong reflected on the emotional significance of their achievement, emphasizing the unexpected nature of their success and her hopes for future Olympic participation.