Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
Weightlifting gold medalist found dead
By Jhoo Dong-chan
The late Kim
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Kim Byung-chan, the former weightlifter who won a gold medal at the 1990 Asian Games, was found dead Friday at his rented apartment in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. He was 46.
According to Chuncheon Police Station, Wednesday, Kim lived alone after his mother passed away in 2013. His body was found by a neighbor who had visited him daily. The cause of death has not yet been released by police.
Kim gained fame by winning gold at the Beijing Asian Games, setting a new Asian record in doing so.
He also won silver and bronze medals at the World Weightlifting Championships in 1991 and three gold medals at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in 1992.
In 1996, Kim had a motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Since then, he failed to get a job and survived on a 525,000 won ($480) monthly pension granted to medalists at international competitions.
Kim’s mother, who had taken care of her son, passed away from a chronic disease in 2013. He was then diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus last year.
The former athlete was reported to have visited a hospital in Chuncheon for his cancer treatment in May, but was unable to pay his medical bills due to financial difficulties.
Kim’s neighbor said it was heartbreaking to see a gold medalist die alone without anyone’s help.
Officials from the Gangwon athletes’ association and Kim’s middle and high school alumni visited his altar to offer their condolences.
Kim’s remains were cremated Tuesday, and his ashes brought to Chuncheon Cinerarium.