The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Tue, December 10, 2019 | 22:17
2018 PyeongChang
Be my eyes: for Paralympians, age is just a number
Posted : 2018-03-14 17:03
Updated : 2018-03-14 21:05
Kang Hyun-kyung
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Blind skier Choi Bo-gyu, right, competes in the 1.5-kilometer Para cross-country skiing event with the help of sighted guide Kim Hyun-woo at the PyeongChang Biathlon Center, Wednesday. The two athletes communicate with each other through wireless Bluetooth earbuds. / Yonhap
Blind skier Choi Bo-gyu, right, competes in the 1.5-kilometer Para cross-country skiing event with the help of sighted guide Kim Hyun-woo at the PyeongChang Biathlon Center, Wednesday. The two athletes communicate with each other through wireless Bluetooth earbuds. / Yonhap

By Kang Hyun-kyung

Blind alpine skier Choi Bo-gyu finished the 1.5-kilometer Para cross-country skiing race with the help of a guide skier, Kim Hyun-woo.

Their partnership-based skiing came a day after the two successfully cooperated in the men's 12.5-kilometer biathlon race, touching the spectators packed at the PyeongChang Biathlon Center.

Choi was born blind. He and his skiing partner communicate thorough wireless Bluetooth earbuds. Choi is one of the three visually impaired South Korean athletes participating in the Paralympics.

Cheering fans helped them finish the race easily. The crowd at the Gangneung Hockey Center encouraged South Korea's sledge hockey players to do their utmost in their showdown against the United States on Tuesday.

Around 6,600 spectators watched the game and cheered on the Koreans. The hockey center has been packed with home fans during all South Korea's games. The South Korea-Japan showdown attracted 6,000 spectators.

The Paralympics has been enjoying the unexpected popularity, benefiting a lot from the Olympics that were held weeks before.

Paralympics reflect aging society

For Paralympians, age is just a number.

Out of 36 Paralympic national team members, 14 are in their 40s or older. The average age of the national team is 36.25.

The curling team has the oldest average age. All of them are in their 40s or older. Their average age is 50.8. Curler Jung Seung-won, 60, is the oldest.

All five curlers on the national team have physical impairments from accidents.

Bang Min-ja, 55, one of the national team curlers, said she was addicted to the sport since she first played it in 2004. She played the sport 11 years after a tragic car accident on her way back to Seoul from a summer holiday. Her car flipped and her legs became paralyzed as a result of the accident. She spent almost 10 years complaining about the mishap. But sport helped her to become a Paralympian.

Nordic skier Lee Do-yeon, 46, is one of the senior members of the national team.

She has transformed from a table tennis player to a cyclist to a Nordic skier.

She is preparing for another career transition for the next Summer Paralympics.

She will compete there in cycling.

Her transformation and passion for sports knows no limits. Many Paralympians like her are multi-talented athletes. Wheelchair fencer Jang Dong-shin, 42, plays sledge hockey during winter.


Emailhkang@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter








 
 
  • numberKorea is no longer 'drug free' country
  • numberDespite Trump's warning, Kim Jong-un poised to leverage US election for concession
  • number164 Vietnamese students vanish in South Korea
  • numberNew taekwondo uniform adopted for Tokyo Olympics
  • numberU2 The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 - Seoul [PHOTOS]
  • numberSeoul to suffer sharpest decline in labor force by 2040: WTO
  • numberItaly steps up Seoul campaign on 55th anniversary of space exploration
  • numberYouth unemployment grows while OECD's drops
  • numberNon-bank Remittance expands to 16 African countries
  • numberMcKinsey urges Korean banks to enhance profitability
  • Singer Kim Gun-mo embroiled in sexual assault scandal Singer Kim Gun-mo embroiled in sexual assault scandal
  • Kim Gun-mo accused of rape Kim Gun-mo accused of rape
  • Married actresses returning to small screen after childbirth Married actresses returning to small screen after childbirth
  • TWICE Jihyo injured at airport due to fans TWICE Jihyo injured at airport due to fans
  • TV show airs singer Kim Gun-mo's love story despite sexual assault claim TV show airs singer Kim Gun-mo's love story despite sexual assault claim
DARKROOM
  • Children deserve better

    Children deserve better

  • Global climate change: time is running out

    Global climate change: time is running out

  • CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

    CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

  • No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

    No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

  • Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

    Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright