PARIS — Yeo Seo-jeong, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, finished seventh in the women's vault finals at the Paris Olympics, hampered by a shoulder injury that affected her performance. Competing at the Bercy Arena, Yeo managed an average score of 13.416 across two attempts, failing to secure a medal this time.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Yeo opened with a score of 14.166 but fell to 12.666 in her second vault, reflecting the challenges posed by her physical condition. During the 2021 Tokyo Games, she made history as the first South Korean female gymnast to win an Olympic medal. However, in Paris, she struggled to execute clean landings and finished second to last.
Yeo revealed she had dislocated her right shoulder during a warm-up session approximately two hours before the final. Despite the injury, she chose to compete, driven by a commitment to perform despite the pain. "Because of that injury, I felt very tight and nervous throughout the final," Yeo commented, underscoring her determination to participate rather than withdraw from the competition.
The competition saw American gymnast Simone Biles clinch the gold medal with a score of 15.300, marking her third gold in Paris and the seventh in her illustrious career. Rebeca Andrade of Brazil secured the silver with 14.966 points, and Jade Carey of the United States earned the bronze with 14.466 points. An Chang-ok from North Korea, who won the 2023 Asian Games, finished just outside the medal positions in fourth place with 14.216 points.
Reflecting on her performance and observing her competitors, Yeo admitted to feeling discouraged, particularly due to her injury and the high level of competition. "After watching Biles and Andrade, I honestly felt quite discouraged," she said, highlighting the impact of competing against some of the best gymnasts in the world while not at full strength.