Cool Runnings

Not a single sled was purchased, and nowhere could a decent runway be found. Despite these harsh conditions and against all odds, the Korean Bobsled Team finished in 2nd place in an international tournament for the first time in history. What was once a vivid dream, the Korean version of “Cool Runnings” has become a reality.

Kang Gwang-bae (30) and Lee Gi-ro (28), both part of the same Gangwon Provincial Government bobsled team, entered the 2004 World Cup Start Tournament held at Groringen Netherlands from July 8 to July 11. They finished in second place, becoming the first Koreans ever to win a medal in an international bobsled tournament.

The World Cup Tournament is the testing ground for some of the world’s finest bobsled athletes. Not only do two-seater sleds cost 23 million won: without runways, they cannot serve any purpose. Thus, bobsledders were not able to train domestically. Because of this, training had to take place in foreign countries where runways could be leased. In this case, the success that was achieved can be said to be similar to the original story of “Cool Runnings.”

“Cool Runnings” is the movie version of the story of four Jamaicans who, to the surprise of many, entered the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games. The Jamaican team finished last, but their story stirred quite a commotion throughout the world.

Korea never even considered having a bobsled team, and many were greatly shocked by the results that the nation’s only bobsled team, Skeleton, brought home from abroad.

Last November, the Skeletons, sponsored by the Gangwon Provincial Government, brought in Kim Gwang-bae an original Skeleton member, and Lee Gi-ro, a luge athlete, and sent them both to Austria to train. Kim was part of the Skeleton team at the 1998 Nagano and 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and Lee participated in the luge at Nagano. Lee Gi-ro and Kim Gwang-bae also joined separate skeleton teams, finishing in 4th and 6th place. The team is scheduled to finish its training in Austria before returning home on July 19.

Hwan Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com