Taekwondo Star Makes Comeback
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Athens Olympic gold medallist Moon Dae-sung officially declared his comeback to the taekwondo mat.
At a press conference at the press center in Seoul Wednesday, Moon, 30, said he would return to the sport he had dominated for a chance to win a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
``I will strive to seek a gold medal at the Olympics next year and help boost a taekwondo boom,'' said Moon, a professor and manager of the taekwondo team at Donga University in Busan, South Gyeongsang Province.
The athlete originally retired after winning gold in 2004.
South Korea's poor achievement at the World Taekwondo Championships in Beijing last month motivated him to come back.
``I was frustrated to see South Korean athletes losing at the world championships. More disappointing was the defeat in the men's over 80 kilogram class, meaning the prestige of taewkwondo's mother land is floundering,'' he said.
South Korean men's team claimed only one gold in Beijing.
He added: ``Donga University professor Kim Woo-kyu and former three time world championship winner Kim Je-kyung advised me to resume my career as an active athlete to develop Korea's sport.''
He dismissed the speculation that his three-year absence will affect him.
He said: ``I found no problem in training with Donga University juniors. Since I became the trainer in 2005, I have practiced kicking three times a week. As for my physical condition I'm about 80%.
``I plan to increase my condition to 100% with rehabilitation and exhibition matches with foreign fighters coming to Korea this July.''
He talked about Korea not producing young competitive athletes to succeed him.
``Nam Yoon-bae and Kim Hak-hwan are doing well in the men's over 80 kilogram division but as they are not as good as their predecessors like Kim Je-kyung and Sydney Olympic gold medallist Kim Kyung-hoon, people worry about that. I think they will perform well like former fighters in two or three years,'' he said.
He will train for two months in Busan and then participate in a local competition in September. However, his real shot will be the tryout to pick national athletes in November.
Meanwhile, Moon, a World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) athlete Council member, expressed his ambition to be part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
``I know to be an IOC athlete Council member I need a recommendation from Korea. Although it won't be easy, I want to rise to the challenge it if I get the chance,'' he said.