Anxiety Is Bigger Than the Joy of Silver Medal

‘A hard shrewd mermaid’ Chang Yun-jung (22 Ewha Women’s University) gained silver medal for synchronized swimming.

At 1st, in Sajin Swimming Court of Busan, Chang Yun-jung marked total 94.750 points for synchronized swimming sole behind Japanese Dachibana Miya(97.667) and gained second best.

At the previous day, Chang Yun-jung gained the second best for compulsory game and couldn’t overcome the wall of Dachibana, the champion of World Swimming Game of Fukuoka in the last year. Dachibana recorded consecutive championship for solo from Bangkok game in the last year.

Chang Yun-jung graduating this year commented after the game “there is even a company team, so I will resign from active player” and commented, “I really want to play and feel something is missing.”

The silver medal by Chang Yun-jung is an almost miracle. Korean Synchronized Team gained participation right for Synchro World Cup in Swiss in September in accordance with world ranking. However Korean Team gave up the participation and couldn’t catch up with world trend under the indifference of Korean Swimming Association.

On the respect, Ghang Yun-jung is the biggest victim. Chang Yun-jung was the first Korean champion with Kim Min-jung (22 Ewha Women’s University) in World Junior Championship of Moscow in 1997. However, the prospect to be the world first position lost sensitiveness and decided to resign.

Silver medal was possible because of the Chang’s will for victory. Her nickname is cold-blooded. There are many stories to approve it. When Chang was second-class in middle school, she participated in an international game of Sweden in 1992. She suddenly had appendix operation and appeared the game place with bandage on the bogy. It made coaching staffs embarrassed. That is not all. She participated in Synchro World Cup of Seoul in 1999 even a joint wounded on the little toe a week before the game, and contributed to gain 9th position of Korean Team.

Chang Jeon jeon@donga.com