For four years looking forward to this moment

We have waited for four years. But the excitement and heartthrob are only short-lived; we've got to persevere and endure another four years. What is more heartbreaking is the sights of the stars dropping their heads shabbily in despair with inevitable retirement at hand. The glaring spotlight that used to shower upon them is no longer here; only the desolation reigning over the deserted stage eats up our hearts.

Yeo Hong-Chul: The ace gymnast who once lorded it over Korea in the 1990s placed 11th in the elimination of Sydney Olympics on Sept.16, failing to enter even the semifinals. He expressed his intention for virtual retirement by saying that he will continue to remain with his team for about one year, giving up his part of an official national champion, thus giving way to new and promising junior athletes. The proud sportsman who won the first silver medal in gymnastics for Korea in the l996 Atlanta Olympic Games broke down in tears this week.

Men's fencing: The men's fencing team seemed to deserve the greatest sympathy. Its members had to sharpen their fight in an empty and desolate gymnasium with no spectators. And now in Sydney they suffered the misfortune of having a close run and losing as they were going all out into the semifinal match without noticing that the electric cord linked to the saber was cut off. Twenty years have passed since fencing was introduced into Korea, and these hapless players practiced hard through thick and thin until they yielded one step before the coveted Olympic medal.

Lee Eun-Chul: He wished to renew the glory of winning a gold medal as he did in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Lee suffered the humiliation of dropping out of the elimination matches in his favorite 10-meter air rifle marksmanship. Maybe, he has grown too old (33 years) to do justice to his capacity.

North Korean delegation: Outstanding North Korean athletes who have been honored with the titles of the People's Athletes or the Distinguished Sportsmen also fell short of garnering significant medals. Ms. Kye Sun-Hui, who was then nameless, made a meteoric rise during the Atlanta Olympic Games by defeating the world's strongest judoist in 48kg division, Ryoko Tamura of Japan. This time her entry gained weight to 52kg but her performance lost steam--narrowly capturing the bronze medal.