I’ll Get Second Double Gold Medals at the Athens Olympics

On December 17, the temperature went down to negative 10 degree Celsius when we met with the “Queen of Archery” Yoon Mi-jin, age 20. At daybreak in the Taereung National Athlete’s Gymnasium, a downpour of snow fell this day. When we stepped in the archery field in Taereung, the winter atmosphere was entirely set in there. Because of the harsh cold wind, the coldness seemed to have penetrated into the bones of the body.

The discipline of archers is continuing through winter. Setting up at a window in an improvised building, they shoot an arrow outside to the field.

Yoon Mi-jin, who shot an arrow just next to the stove, muttered grouchy words on her way outside. “Oh… It’s terribly cold, you will be responsible if I catch a cold.” She frankly said, “I’m not very happy about the interview because I’m missing time to practice.”

She is familiar with me, for I began reporting on her news since the Sydney Olympics. However, it was not hateful when Yoon said her real opinion regarding the interview, rather I felt sorry for her. Because I know that she is a real practice maniac, going outside to concentrate on her own discipline even on Sundays and during midnights.

In 2004, the Athens Olympic will be held. Yoon Mi-jin is aiming at the first greatest record in Olympic archery history. It is to become the consecutive double gold medalist. Despite Korea’s status as the world strongest archery power, nobody has accomplished this goal so far. “Original Queen of Archery” Kim Jin-ho, a professor at Korea National University of Physical Education, and “Goddess of Archery” Kim Soo-nyung could not win two gold medals in individual and group field consecutively over two Olympics.

Yoon Mi-jin, who is reigning as the world’s best woman archer after winning two gold medals at the Sydney Olympics and the New York World Archery Tournament respectively, is also the strongest candidate for the gold medal at next year’s Athens Olympics. “I’ve achieved almost everything a normal athlete could dream of. Therefore, the two consecutive double gold medals is my last goal for my career,” remarked Yoon without covering up her avarice.

She added, “I don’t suffer from the burden. I don’t even perform mind controls like ‘I can do it, Yes, I can do it.’ When I do my best on the targets in front of me, everything has been achieved. Next year’s Olympics will be like this.”

The greatest obstacle that is waiting for her is not existing “outside” but “inside.” She has to be qualified for the national representative selection tournament first, which has received the popular name of “Harder than the Olympics.”

“Just after I took off the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics, I failed to become a representative archer the following year. I was heart-broken. It was really hard to get over that. I did my best and advanced to become a representative in 2002, I could realize this. Tardy players don’t have a chance to become great,” said Yoon.

Many people regard of Yoon as a “Gifted Archer,” but actually she worked herself up to her current fame. She said, “Effort has influenced me more than my gifted ability on my way to reaching this level.”

“Gifted parts? Well, I don’t have… I have good eye sight, and a well-organized figure for shooting an arrow. However, I’m not very tall, 167 centimeters high. I have very weak tendons too, that’s why I’m using a 38-pound heavy bow,” said Yoon.

I asked Seo Oh-seok, the head coach of the national archery team, “What is the distinctive feature of Yoon Mi-jin that can differentiate her from the other players?” Seo has been the head coach of the national archery team at the Sydney Olympics and the New York World Archery Tournament, when Yoon obtained double gold medals.

Seo responded, selecting three points. “First of all, she’s superior in recognizing the situation. She’s very good at coping with the situations and crises at each given time. Second, she is very courageous and tough like Kim Soo-nyung. She has a peculiar desire for victory. Even in running, she always takes first like a shrewd man searching for an oasis. Finally, she has a good relationship among her colleagues and seniors. She always gives out to others, thereby receiving love from them.”

She is good at archery and has good characteristics at the same time, essentially meaning “Icing on the cake.” However, as a perfect archer, Yoon Mi-jin is not so perfect like the “Robots” in every field. She becomes keyed up like other people when involved in the game.

“I become most nervous when I stand at the archery lane. Once I dropped the bow and received no points. At the Athens Olympics, the archery field is located in a pre-historic stadium. It will draw a lot of attention from the audience, raising the tension on the players also.”

Like other 20-year old college girls, Yoon’s favorite hobbies are going karaoke and night clubs. After wrapping up the Europe Grandprix Archery Tournament in Turkey last year, she danced with the foreign players at the good-bye party held at a night club. Since she became a college student, she has not had a blind date so far. She regrets this a lot, but she still has no concerns about finding a boy friend.

What kind of dream does she have after finishing her career as an archer?

“I’ve heard from Oh Kyo-moon, the former men’s national archery player, that ‘Unlike archery, studying is a totally different field. The more you dig into it, the more interesting it would become, so you should study a lot.’ I want to end up in graduate school, anyway, there are so many things to study,” remarked Yoon.

After finishing her interview, she said, “As I have lost time because of this, I have to supplement the void later.” She smiled, but looked very hard-minded.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com