Koo Kyo-dong’s Bronze Medal Soaked In Tears

For a period during which the whole world can be changed, he has represented his country. But his representation has been marked with misfortunes. In big games like the Olympics and Asian Games, he could not even participate. He had to sit on bench and watch his colleagues paying from a distance.

Through repeated misfortunes, Koo Kyo-dong (33, Woolsan City) had to think of retirement. But he has blown up all these dark memories.

In the individual epee semifinal of the 2002 International Fencing Championship held on August 21 in Portugal. Koo who ranks 240th in the world lost the game to the 28th Russian player 12-15. But he grabbed the bronze medal.

By this, Koo marked a record of Asian’s first winning a medal in a game which is dominated by Europeans. During this championship, the Korean fencing society has got to feel confident with Koo’s bronze medal and Hyun-hee’s gold medal in the female epee. Thus, the future of it in the upcoming Busan Asian Game looks bright.

Koo Kyo-dong easily beat all of his six opponents in the preliminaries wherein 169 players from 61 countries participated. In the round of 64, Koo barely won it with a mere one point lead (14-13). In the next round, he took on his own colleague Lee Sang-yup (Busan City Physical Ass’n). He struggled and beat Lee, too, with 15-14. Koo, whose spirits were boosted by the two consecutive one-point victories, zipped through the round of 16 and the quarter semifinal. The championship went to the Russian player who beat Koo in the semifinal.

Koo was a handball player in elementary school. He first encountered the fencing at Jinjoo Bongwon Middle School. He was first year at that time. Then he graduated from Jinjoo Vocational High School and Hankook University of Physical Education. He first joined the national team in March of 1991 and has retained his position for more than 10 years. But his only rememberable record was the silver medal in the ’93 Asian Championship. Especially, his past records in this Championship were poor.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com