The Korean national wrestling team (Yonhap News)
South Korean wrestlers entered in the upcoming London Olympics said on Wednesday they will try to erase disappointing memories from the previous Summer Games in Beijing.
At a media day event held at the National Training Center in Seoul, Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestlers and coaches alike said they will be out for redemption in London.
“It’s important for the athletes to have faith in themselves,” said Bang Dae-du, the head coach for Greco-Roman wrestlers. “Once they have that conviction, they can be successful on the mat.”
At the Beijing Olympics, South Korea was shut out of wrestling gold medals for the first time in 32 years, coming away with one bronze medal in men’s Greco-Roman. Starting with the Montreal Olympics in 1976, South Korean wrestlers had won 10 gold medals in the previous seven Olympics.
Jung Ji-hyun, a Greco-Roman wrestler in the 60-kilogram division, was part of the streak, having won gold at the 2004 Athens Games. But he was also on the South Korean team that failed to extend the streak in Beijing, where he was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Jung said he’s eager to return to the Olympic stage for the third and the final time.
“I want to make new history this time,” said the 29-year-old.
“I’ve been eyeing the London Games as my last international event. I am desperate for a gold medal.”
Jung will lead the Greco-Roman delegation of five. Along with Jung, Choi Gyu-jin in the 55 kg class and Kim Hyun-woo in the 66 kg division are considered the best medal hopefuls for South Korea, while freestylers are expected to struggle. (Yonhap News)
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