Korea's Seo Chae-hyun, Hong 10 to make final Olympic bids in Budapest

Olympic Sports

Published: 18 Jun. 2024, 15:44

Korea's Seo Chae-hyun, Hong 10 to make final Olympic bids in Budapest

Korea's Hong 10 battles it out against the United States' Jeffro during the quarterfinals of the first leg of the Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai, China on May 19. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Korea could see a bit of redemption in its run-up to the Paris Olympics as a handful of individual stars make their final bids in Budapest, Hungary this weekend. The second leg of the two-part Olympic Qualifier Series will lock in the entries for, arguably, the flashiest sports of the Games.

About 460 athletes are vying for a ticket to Paris through the Olympic Qualifier Series, a “festival style” event that serves as the qualifiers for four disciplines — breaking, BMX freestyle, skateboarding and sport climbing.

Korea has not qualified any athlete across the four categories.

The series, organized by the International Olympic Committee, is the first of its kind and was introduced ahead of the Paris Olympics. It’s the final shot for athletes who haven’t yet secured a spot through other pathways, like a recent world championship or regional qualifying tournament win, to earn their place.

Korea's Cho Hyun-ju is in action during the women's heat 1 practice at the 2023 World Championships in Ostia, Italy on Oct. 7, 2023. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

The first leg of the series took place in Shanghai, China last month with a handful of standout performances by the Korean delegation. Korean sport climbers Lee Do-hyun and Seo Chae-hyun won the men’s and women’s lead finals, respectively, while B-boy Hong 10 finished the men’s competition in fourth place.

All will be in Budapest to rack up more points as they look to lock down a place in Paris.

Breaking, or breakdancing, is making its Olympic debut this summer after premiering as an event at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A total of 32 B-boys and B-girls will battle for gold in Paris, with 16 in the men’s tournament and 16 in the women’s competition.

Countries can have a maximum of two representatives in each contest.

Korea’s Kim Hong-yul, otherwise known as B-boy Hong 10, earned the highest finish among Korea’s representatives in Shanghai, finishing in fourth place to earn 38 points.

Korea's Hong 10 battles the United States' Jeffro in a quarterfinal battle at the Olympic Qualifier Series held in Shanghai, China on May 19. [AP/YONHAP]

At 40 years old, Hong 10 is the oldest among those vying for a spot in the men’s competition.

He was the only Korean to medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, taking silver after losing the final battle to Japan’s Nakarai Shigeyuk, B-boy Shigekix, who earned the qualifying spot.

Korea’s Kim Heon-woo, B-boy Wing, ended his Shanghai run in 11th place in the men’s competition, with 30 points, and Park In-soo, B-boy Kill, sits in 30th place with 11 points.

In the women’s competition, Korea’s Jeon Ji-ye, B-girl Fresh Bella, ended the Shanghai qualifiers in 18th place with 23 points, and Kwon Seong-hui, B-girl Starry, sits in 30th with 11 points.

Korea’s sport climbers are also among the favorites to earn a spot in Paris, particularly in the boulder and lead combined event. Sport climbing debuted at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but Korea has yet to medal. This year will be the first time that speed climbing runs separately from the highly technical boulder and lead categories following a controversial decision to combine all three in Tokyo.

Korea's Seo Chae-hyun competes during the lead final of the women's boulder and lead competition at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai, China on May 19. [XINHUA/YONHAP]

Korea’s 20-year-old Seo will be among those seeking a Paris ticket in Budapest and is vying to become a two-time Olympian.

She finished in eighth place in women's sport climbing in Tokyo following a breakout performance at the 2019 World Cup where she won the lead competition at 16 years old.

The split between the speed and combined boulder and lead categories is a good sign for Seo, who made the finals in Tokyo after topping the qualification table for lead and finishing boulder in fifth but coming in 17th place in speed.

Seo sits in second place in boulder and lead at the qualifier series with 45 points following the first leg in Shanghai, after winning the lead final and finishing the boulder event in seventh place.

Fellow Korean climber Lee, 21, is at the top of the men’s boulder and lead combined competition with 50 points after winning the lead final and finishing boulder in fourth.

Chon Jong-won and Song Yun-chan are also in the men's contest, with Kim Ja-in, Seo Ye-joo and Sa sol entered in the women's.

Korea is less known for speed climbing, but Shin Eun-chol and Jung Yong-jun are in the men's qualifying contest, and Jeong Ji-min is in fifth place in the women's contest, alongside Sung Han-areum and Noh Hee-ju.

Skateboarding is also making its return as an Olympic sport after debuting alongside sport climbing in Tokyo. But Korea has yet to compete in the discipline, having sent zero athletes in either the men’s or women’s contests in 2021.

Sportsmanship shines at Asiad skateboarding finals

Both skateboarding park and skateboarding street are making their return as separate categories in Paris.

Just two Korean skateboarders are vying for a spot in Paris through the qualifier series, teenagers Cho Hyun-ju in the women’s skateboarding park contest and Ha Si-ye in women’s skateboarding street.

Korea's Cho Hyun-ju competes in the women's semifinals of the Skateboard Park 2023 World Championships in Ostia, Italy on Oct. 7, 2023. [AP/YONHAP]

But qualification for skateboarding will rest primarily on each athlete’s standing in the world rankings, with points from the qualifier series a secondary factor.

Korea has zero entries in either the men’s or women’s contests for BMX freestyle, which was added as an Olympic discipline for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

The qualifier series begins in Budapest on Thursday and runs through Sunday.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]