Doing Best Glitters More Than Gold
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Gold certainly glitters in the Olympic Games. However, winning a gold medal is not what sports are for. South Korean diver Son Sung-chul and canoeist Lee Soon-ja, even at the lowest scores and failures to advance to next rounds, are among the Korean athletes who outshine other medallists.
Son, 21, was Korea's only diver. In a preliminary of the 3-meter springboard men's event Monday, he made a lot of splashes whiling diving into the water, coming 29th among 29 contestants. He failed to advance to the semifinal. His scored 353.35 ― far lower than China's He Chong, who ranked first with the score of 515.5.
For the last six months, he did not have a single chance to participate in domestic or international competitions. There was no diving board in the pool at the National Training Center in Taeneung, so he had to practice at a pool in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province.
He arrived in Beijing Saturday, only two days before his competition, because the Korean diving team, comprised of Son and his coach Lee Jong-hee, could not get accreditation cards. They had to wait until Korean teams of other events returned home after their games.
Lee said that what was difficult for Son was the loneliness rather than the short stay before the competition. ``He was nervous as it was his first Olympic participation, but there were no fellow divers who could help him ease this,'' the coach said.
``After diving, other divers received applause from their team or people from their countries. But it was quiet after my diving, and I felt more nervous,'' Son said.
Other athletes are staging lonely fights for future glory.
Lee Soon-ja, 30, was the first Korean canoeist participating in the Olympic Games.
She came in last among eight competitors in the K-1 (kayak single) 500 meters for women, with a time of 1:58.14, far behind others.
After the race, Lee shed tears, saying, ``It was tough, but I did my best.''
Since arriving in Beijing Thursday, she had to prepare for her race by herself. Her only companion was a Hungarian coach, who was of little help as no interpreter was provided. While athletes of other events spent time with their fellows and coaching staff, Lee had to do everything by herself from having meals to borrowing a kayak and fixing it.
``I've had hard time. But I'm proud of being Korea's first canoeist in the Olympic Games. I was the last in the race, but I did my best. This will be a turning point in my life. I learned a lot,'' Lee said.