On Aug. 8, weightlifter Yoon Jin Hee snatches 88 kilograms at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the women's 53-kilogram category. Yoon won bronze in her weight class.
"I hope my husband performs even better than I have in his event."
So said weightlifter Yoon Jin Hee in an interview on Aug. 8 after she won bronze in the women's 53-kilogram category at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Yoon is a mom with two kids, and she flew to Rio Janeiro for the games with her husband Won Jeongsik, a weightlifter on the men's national team.
The weightlifting duo competed in this year's Olympic Games as the only married couple on the South Korean national team. As life partners and as colleagues in the sport of weightlifting, the couple has shown the world that anything can be achieved with the strength of love.
After finishing their respective competitions at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Aug. 9, weightlifting couple Yoon Jin Hee (left) and Won Jeongsik share a loving moment outside the weightlifting stadium. The couple announced they have their eyes set on their next goal, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The couple's story is special not for the medals they've won or because they are part of the Korean national team. What truly shines through their athletic achievements is the fact that in spite of the many obstacles that came their way, they relied on each other for support and guidance.
Yoon, who turned 30 this year, competed on Aug. 8 and won a bronze medal in the women's 53-kilogram weight category. This was after her retirement from the sport after competing in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Until last year, she was happily leading the life of a mom, raising her two daughters, when her husband suggested the unthinkable.
Won had suffered a major injury while competing at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. While going through painful months of rehabilitation, Won, who believed Yoon still had a lot to give as an athlete, asked his wife to join him at the Rio 2016 Olympics. There came moments of hesitation and self-doubt, but after countless weeks of torturous training, the couple realized their dream and proudly pinned the national flag to their uniform.
Won, who competed on Aug. 9 in the men's 69-kilogram category, unfortunately did not perform as well as his wife had hoped, ranking ninth overall in the competition. However, after his defeat, Won said, "My goal was to finish the competition without sustaining any injuries and that, I'm happy to say, I've accomplished. Besides, Jin Hee won a medal and I'm very proud of her for her accomplishments."
Yoon cheered for her husband, despite all the odds. Won, despite his defeat, couldn't contain his joy at his wife's immense achievements. The love that defied gravity for these two Olympians will surely pave the way to their next challenge four years down the road.
By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Yonhap News
hlee10@korea.kr