Jin Jong-oh joins national shooting team for Brazil Olympics

Jin Jong-oh (37) was not hesitant as he pulled the trigger at the shooting range. Jin was the first to finish shooting among the 17 shooters participating in men’s 50-meter pistol competition for selecting members of the Korean national team for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. At the Daegu Shooting Range on Friday, Jin finished shooting as much as 30 minutes earlier than in other competitions. “I finished shooting faster because I was not in the best condition,” he said, while expressing a sense of relaxation.

In contrast to how he acted, however, Jin was worried a lot about whether he would be successful in his bid to participate in four consecutive Olympic Games. Smiling only after confirm‎ing his selection as a national team member, Jin said, “I focused on the competition for selection so intensively that I almost felt like I did not want to practice shooting for the time being.”

Jin acquired 2,827 points during the five rounds to rank atop at Friday's competition, while secured a berth to participate in the Olympics together with runner-up Han Seung-woo (2,790 points). Jin is thus set to take part in two competitions, namely 10-meter air pistol and 50-meter pistol shooting, at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and is taking on a challenge to win the gold medal in individual competitions for three consecutive events for the first time in the history of Korean sports. Jin acquired the gold medals in the 50-meter pistol shooting competition at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing; and 10-meter air pistol and 50-meter pistol competitions at the 2012 Olympics in London.

“I will forget the outcome of the competition for selection, and instead will prepare for the Olympics as if I am starting anew as beginner,” he said. “Since no one has ever acquired the gold medal in individual shooting competitions in three consecutive Olympic Games in the world’s shooting history, I wish to achieve three consecutive wins in the 50-meter pistol competition without fail.” Jin has already acquired five Olympic medals (three golds, and two silvers), and if he adds two medals in Rio de Janeiro, he will break the record of most medals (six) won by a Korean athlete in Olympics, which was set by archer Kim Soo-nyeong.

“I feel sorry the most when I hear that it is about time I handed over the seat on the national team to younger shooters. It is true that I feel depleted in physical stamina by myself. My eyesight was level 1.5 during my college years, but it is now 0.6,” he said. “I have never been to Brazil, and hence I truly wanted to join the national team roster. Furthermore, I will do my best to take on a challenge to participate in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo as well.”

He singled out his pride in the Taegeuk mark on the national team uniform as secret to stay atop in Korean shooting by overcoming mental burden. “Before I came to the shooting range, I watched the movie ‘Gukga Daepyo (Take Off)’ on TV, and recalled the great pride of being a national team member," Jin said. "I overcame the crisis by recalling the sense of pride that I felt when I come to wear the national team uniform.”

At Friday’s competition, Jin used a pistol that was made to his special order by a Swiss gun company, which drew attention. The red pistol had ‘Jin Jong-oh No. 1’ inscribed on it. “I wish to set many records at Olympic Games, and have the pistol exhibited at a museum,” he said.

In women’s competition, Kim Jang-mi (24), who is making her bid to win the gold medal at two consecutive Olympic Games, has become a member of the national team for women’s 25-meter pistol shooting.

대구=정윤철기자 trigger@donga.com