Sweat is Gold at “Taereung Sauna”

“The rope does not lie.”

Muscular men are climbing up a 10-meter rope that is hanging from the ceiling. Their thick arm and stomach muscles are bulging.

This is taking place at Taereung Training Center in Seoul. National wrestling team athletes are hanging from a rope in the weight training room.

Director Ahn Seung-moon says, “Rope climbing strengthens upper body muscles. It is impossible to hide one’s stamina in the air.” He says the rope symbolizes an honest workout.

In another corner, boxing and volleyball national athletes are lifting weights.

With the Doha Asian Games 51 days away in December, athletes at the prestigious Taereung Training Center are focused on their final training.

“I came here in 1997 and have been here ever since. During the past nine years, I have only been able to go home a couple of times every year. I want to see my four-month-old boy. It hurts to think that I will not be by his side all the time. I want to hang my son’s picture along with the gold medal at the awards ceremony.

Wrestler Baek Jin-kook says that he feels sorry for his family, but points out that this is the only way to earn a gold medal.

The Korean national wrestling team checked in at the training center in January and have been here ever since, except for a quick visit home during the Chuseok holidays. Director Ahn says, “Training heavily is the only way to beat foreigners who have great stamina.”

Athletes in other fields are in the same situation. Boxing coach Park Si-hun, who also entered in January, says, “I have not been able to visit my children during vacation or school events in the last five years because of my work here. I feel like I have left my family for this. You can not do this job without a sense of duty.”

Archers pull bowstrings 400 to 500 times every day. They shoot thousands of arrows and aim for the gold at the Asian Games. The women’s team director, Oh Sun-taek, says, “Korean athletes train harder than any other athletes.”

Athletes at the Taereung Training Center engage in morning workout from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m., weight training from 11:00 to 12:00 a.m., technical training from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., and personal training after 8:00 a.m.

They also have to run the infamous 3.8 km hiking path to Buram Mountain. If a player falls behind, or his/her performance falters, he or she receives intense physical training on the spot. The players are drenched in sweat all the time.

bluesky@donga.com uni@donga.com