Calm and collected Kim Ye-ji crashes out of women's 25-meter pistol qualifiers

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Calm and collected Kim Ye-ji crashes out of women's 25-meter pistol qualifiers

Published: 02 Aug. 2024, 21:34

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

Korean shooter Kim Ye-ji competes in the 25-meter women’s qualificaiton round in Chateauroux, France on Friday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Korean shooter Kim Ye-ji failed to qualify for the 25-meter women’s final at the Paris Olympics Friday after missing the timing on one of her shots during the rapid round to finish in 27th place out of 40.

Kim needed a top-eight finish at Chateauroux in France, but missed her timing during the rapid round and ended up with a zero on the board for her No. 41 shot, resulting in a total score of 285 out of 300.

In the rapid round, shooters have to take their shot within three seconds. Kim missed the timing and was stuck with zero points.

The 25-meter pistol is a women’s event that features two qualifying rounds — rapid and precision — of 30 shots each.

Before the rapid round, Kim, who is the world champion over 25 meters, scored 290 points in the precision round earlier in the day, but the combined score of 575 was not enough to send her through to the final.

Countrywoman Yang Ji-in, meanwhile, reached the final after finishing in sixth with a combined score of 586.

Kim’s failure blows her chance to add another medal at this year’s Olympics after a silver in the women's 10-meter air pistol on Sunday, after which she went viral online for her pose and ability.

With her black tinted shooting glasses, one hand in her pocket — actually a pose that is shared by nearly all air pistol Olympians to improve balance — and absolutely no emotion on her face, Kim's ice-cold approach to the biggest stage in global sport was an immediate hit online.

Videos of Kim in action, both at the Paris Olympics and the Baku World Cup in May this year, were shared widely online, racking up millions of likes as of press time Friday and making her one of the biggest stars of the Games.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN, JIM BULLEY [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]