Fencer's 'I can do it' spirit inspires young South Koreans

By Park Jae-hyuk

Park Sang-young celebrates on the podium after winning the gold medal in a men’s individual epee final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday. / AP-Yonhap

South Korean fencer Park Sang-young staged a dramatic victory in winning the country’s first-ever gold medal in the men’s individual epee at the Rio Olympics, Tuesday.

At Carioca Arena 3 in Rio, Park defeated world No. 3 Geza Imre of Hungry 15-14 and clinched South Korea’s third gold medal.

When Park was losing against the Hungarian fencer by 10-14, as the South Koreans kept on cheering they noticed Park mumbling some words as if he was chanting a spell on himself.

Although the audiences could not hear his words, Koreans could easily read his lips and catch the words, “I can do it.”

The 20-year-old, who was the youngest competitor in the event, won the gold medal in a come-from-behind victory by scoring five consecutive points.

Imre said after the competition, “I could not do anything during the last seconds of the bout.”

At the moment of Park’s victory, commentator Choi Byung-chul shouted in excitement, “Such victory is almost impossible in epee, unlike sabre or foil.”

South Korean fencing head coach Cho Jong-hyung also said, “Actually, I gave up the match towards the end.”

Park’s positive thinking and “I can do it” spirit moved many young South Koreans, who have long held on to the term “Hell Joseon,” a self-deprecating term describing the country as a hellish place. Park’s underdog victory gave some hope to young South Koreans who have suffered from a continuing recession and high rates of youth unemployment.

Images of the mumbling Park are spreading fast among internet users and have inspired South Korean athletes at the Rio Olympics as well.

South Korean table tennis player Seo Hyo-won wrote on her Facebook page, “I can do it,” Thursday. She will compete in the women’s table tennis team event, Friday.