Korea Ranks 13th in Paralympics
By Yoon Chul
Korea Times Intern
South Korea failed in its goal of earning 13 gold medals at the Beijing Paralympics, but did achieve another goal of finishing among the top 14 in the gold medal rankings by finishing 13th.
Korea totaled 10 golds, eight silvers and 13 bronze medals at the Paralympics, which ended their 12-day run Wednesday night. Host China topped the gold medal rankings with 87 and was followed by Great Britain with 42. The United States, Ukraine and Australia rounded out the top five.
As was also the case at the Beijing Olympics, South Korea placed second behind China among Asian countries in the Paralympic gold medal rankings. Japan ranked 17th after collecting five gold medals in addition to 14 silvers and eight bronze medals.
Korea defeated China to win gold in the men's class 4/5 table tennis team competition Tuesday, moving the country into 13th in the medal rankings.
Korea's shooters totaled four gold medals and boccia athletes earned two golds and one bronze. Korean shooter Lee Ji-seok, who was making his Paralympic debut, and boccia player Park Keon-woo, who suffers from cerebral paralysis, brought home two gold medals apiece.
While South Korea has never won gold in a track and field event other than the marathon at the Olympics, Hong Suk-man won his second Paralympic gold in Beijing, following his first Paralympic championship at the 2004 Athens Games.
Natalie du Toit of South Africa, who finished 16th in women's marathon swimming at the Beijing Olympics, brought her country five gold medals at the Paralympics. Nick Taylor of the United States, who tossed a ball using his feet, earned a gold in wheelchair tennis doubles.
Korea's Paralympic athletes, who hope more people with disabilities will try to partake in sports after watching their performances, will prepare for the next Paralympics in 2012 in London.