The Problem Was the Referee Qualification ..Athletes Played Well

¡°Are you crazy¡°?

Jeon Myong Gyu (39. Samsung fire Insurance-photo), manager of Korean representative team in short track, who made an issue by blaming referee James Hyuish of Australia was hero of favoristic judgment at team selection place in high dungeon.

After taking over the responsibilities of coaching representative team since 1987, he used to train short track athletes for 15 years. He said, ¡°This Olympic was difficult in mental level rather than any other Games meet.¡°

Under his coaching Korea won 11 Gold medals since Alberbill Olympics, in which short track became a regular event, he self evaluated,¡°despite many vicissitudes, we achieved more than we expected.¡°

__ if you evaluate this game in total…….

¡°Athletes performed very well. Especially I thank women players since they endured well though it is real tough play for women. I feel a sense of loss towards men`s relay team which got disqualified at preliminary level. In fact, we are No.1 in world ranking in Men`s relay and I thought that we will surely get gold medal in this Olympic too. I wish athletes could circle round the link holding National flag nicely decorating the last finale at short track….¡°

it was complicated due to judgment all the time……

¡°As I told before, it is big problem that quality of referee couldn`t come up to athletes` high level. It is the memory that I never want to look back. Forgetting soon is the best solution.¡°

__ how was the ability of other countries?

¡°China was a strong team, in fact. It seems that our team and China will have severe competition for a while. Canada that had various athletes was also good. There are many athletes who have capacity same as Mark Ganyon, who got gold medal in men`s 500m in Canada. America has also developed a lot.¡°

--the point that Korea team should implement to keep world`s top position…..

¡°Building an exclusive link for short track is utmost priority and it should be expanded to the ground level. Currently, short track athletes in domestic are only up to 100 including middle school. I think each school should work for building up a team.¡°

--What is schedule from now on?

¡°World team championship will be held from last March. When we go back to Korea, we will prepare for these Games after resting for a while.¡°

ssoo@donga.com