Korea aims for more than 10 gold medals in Rio
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National team athletes and officials pose during a press event to mark the 100-day countdown to the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics at the National Training Center in Seoul, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Baek Byung-yeul
With 100 days to go before the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, the Korean delegation to the global sporting event has vowed to field strong performances there, Wednesday.
At a press conference in the National Training Center in northern Seoul, sports officials and athletes pledged their best at the Olympics, which will take place Aug. 5-21.
“Korean athletes have prepared a lot for this competition since the end of the 2012 Olympics, and I am so sure they can see best results after 100 days,” said Kim Jung-haeng, president of the Korean Sport Olympics Committee (KSOC). He said that the committee will put its best efforts into the Games.
“As many know, the local situation in Brazil is not favorable for the Korean team. The country is 12 time zones away from here and it will take more than 20 hours to get there. Plus there are also security and health issues. However, the Korean committee will provide full support so that the athletes can display their best performance there,” Kim said.
Athletes unveil long-sleeved shirts and pants uniforms for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Chung Mong-gyu, head of the Korean delegation to the Rio Games, said the team’s goal is to earn more than 10 gold medals to be placed in the top 10 by gold medal count.
“Our goal is to win more than 10 gold medals to be in the top 10 for four consecutive Olympics events in a row. As a leader of the delegation, I will reflect the athletes’ difficulties as much as possible,” Chung said. He is also president of the Korea Football Association (KFA) and chairman of construction giant Hyundai Development Co.
Choi Jong-sam, head of the National Training Center, said the size of the Korean delegation to Rio will be 350, including 230 athletes.
When asked about countermeasures against the Zika virus there, Choi said the delegation is seeking ways to minimize the risk of the disease by closely working together with the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Jin aims to shoot fourth Olympic gold
Jin Jong-oh, who bagged three gold medals in sharpshooting at the past two Olympics, said he aims to win more gold in Rio.
“I’ve heard that no shooter has won gold medals in three consecutive Olympics yet, so if I could add another gold in Rio, it would be a great honor to me,” Jin said.
Making his first Olympics appearance in 2004, Jin has won three gold medals ― men’s 50-meter pistol in 2008 and 2012 and men’s 10-meter air pistol in 2012.
The 36-year-old added the greatest opponent of the athletes will be the pressure on themselves.
“I think it is important for athletes to display their best performance without regret as the pressure on themselves is their biggest opponent,” Jin said.
Archer Ki Bo-bae said her goal is to win eight consecutive Olympic gold medal in the women’s team archery competition.
“I feel the burden of responsibility as I am targeting to win a gold medal in the women’s team archery eight times in a row. I know that maintaining the top spot is much harder than challenging the top position, but we will do our best,” the 28-year-old archer said. She won two gold medals in the individual and team events in 2012.