[Sports View]How Park deals with success to impact young
The 1986 Asian Games were a big event for Korea. It was the first international event of its kind to be staged, and Korea’s Im Chun-ae emerged as a star with three golds in track and field. She became famous as the girl that rose from poverty. Her post-victory comment that she ate only ramyeon while training became famous.At that time, hunger was a major reason many young athletes sweated buckets to climb Mount Olympus. For years, boxing, wrestling and judo were Korea’s only medal sports in the Olympics. In Konglish, they were collectively called “hungry sports.” TV broadcasts of medal winners were watched by onlookers on the street, in bars and in restaurants. People identified with the heroes who had endured hardship and were trying to carve out a better future against all odds. There was only one motivation for athletes ― feed family members.
Athletes who succeeded internationally received special compensation from their sports organizations and the government also chipped in. Former President Chun Doo-hwan gave out special bonuses. That is why you won’t find many athletes from that era bad-mouthing Chun. It was very simple in those days. After retiring, athletes went on to become coaches or got jobs at companies.
Nowadays, it’s different, and I think the big catalyst was the 2002 World Cup. Before the World Cup there were athletes who occasionally strayed from their training regime and went on TV shows. But with athletes like soccer star Park Ji-sung going global ― he plays for Manchester United in the Premier League ― athletes began to cash in on TV. Shooting commercials to earn extra cash is not what bothers me. What bothers me are the young athletes who make TV appearances and try to enter the entertainment world. Where are people like short track speed skater Kim Dong-sung now? Kim won gold medals at the Olympics and World Championships. He took a break due to injuries then tried his talent on TV. It didn’t work out. I believe that had he opted to not play the clown on TV and given a last, best effort to make the team, he could have ridden into the sunset with glory. Ko Jong-su, once hailed as the country’s most gifted left-footed soccer player, is trying to extend his career with the Daejon Citizens of the K-League, but it is doubtful if he will ever wear the national team uniform. He admits how his stint with the entertainment world hurt him.
These athletes are not that hungry anymore. There are many temptations along the way. One athlete who comes to mind is Park Tae-hwan, the Korean teen swim star. Let’s hope he does not fall into the same trap. Great athletes don’t get where they are by cutting their training.
With the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics just ahead, Park has huge potential. He already has made history by clinching Korea’s first gold medal at the World Championships. What Park does with his career is important to legions of youngsters who may follow his lead in swimming or other sports. Let’s hope Park can handle the spotlight, and is coached to deal with the big commercial offers that come his way. Physical talent is only one part of athletic success; emotional intelligence also matters.
by Brian Lee Staff Writer africanu@joongang.co.kr
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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