Jo Gi-seong gives a thumbs-up as he finds out he won the 50-meter freestyle S4 swimming competition on Sept. 17 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
"Sport is a bridge to society for the disabled. I hope people like me can come to society through sports, just as I did."
Swimmer Jo Gi-seong gave those words of encouragement as he won three gold medals at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Jo, the first Korean swimmer to grab three gold medals in the 50-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle S4 events, encouraged other aspiring parathletes, saying that he was able to "arrive on the world stage thanks to swimming."
Parathlete Jeong Ho-won celebrates on his coach's shoulders as he wins the gold medal in the final match of the boccia mixed individual BC3 event on Sept. 16 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Jo was not the only one whose story touched and moved the crowds. Every parathlete at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games has produced the best moment of their lives by facing their challenges and overcoming their physical limits.
The athletes' will for victory was especially pronounced in the boccia events, for parathletes whose challenges include moving or using their body parts on their own. Some of their bodies were rocking back and forth as they took part in the competition using mouth sticks to aim at the target, but the enthusiasm that was seen in their eyes once again reminded us that there might be no limits to the human spirit. Team Korea's boccia player Jeong Ho-won smiled in victory as he won the gold medal in the individual event and then a silver medal in the group event.
Judoka Choi Gwang-geun gives his wife a 'golden kiss,' surrounded by the crowds, after winning the gold medal in the men's 100-kilogram event on Sept. 10.
During the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the meaning of love was also visible to all, along with the strong willpower shown by the parathletes, bringing a huge applause from the audience. The one who showed us the meaning of love was judoka Choi Gwang-geun.
Choi was an aspiring judoka in his younger years, but one day he began to lose sight in his left eye, and then the sight in his right eye also got worse. However, he continued his training in judo and was able to join Team Korea at the Paralympics. Supporting Choi as he trained and trained again, was the love and support of his wife, who said yes to his proposal two years ago without even a ring.
On his way to Rio, he promised his wife that he would give her a gold medal instead of a ring, and he has now kept his word to his wife. He ran straight to her, sitting in the crowd, when he won the gold. Surrounded by the crowds, their kiss was one of the most memorable moments of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Paralympic archer Lee Hwa-sook waves as she enters Maracana Stadium for the closing ceremony of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games on Sept. 18.
At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, which once again assured us of the power of love and willpower, Team Korea won seven golds, 11 silvers and 17 bronzes.
Nonetheless, even without any medals, all the athletes in Rio achieved a precious experience and the challenge of their lives.
By Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Yonhap News
icchang@korea.kr