PARIS, July 29 (Yonhap) — South Korean archer Kim Woo-jin has had a charmed career. The 32-year-old has competed in three straight Olympic Games and won the men’s team gold medal in all three of them.
Kim completed that hat trick on Monday in Paris, where he joined forces with Lee Woo-seok and Kim Je-deok to defeat the home team France 5-1 in the set score in the final at Invalides.
And in the rich history of South Korean archery, Kim Woo-jin became the first male archer from the country to own three Olympic gold medals.
Kim Je-deok, Kim Woo-jin and Lee Woo-seok of South Korea (L to R) celebrate after winning the gold medal in the men’s archery team event at the Paris Olympics at Invalides in Paris on July 29, 2024. (Yonhap)
“I am so happy to have won my third straight team gold medal,” Kim said. “All three of us came here with one goal, and that was to win this team title. It feels great to have accomplished that.”
The veteran has an admirer in his teammate Kim Je-deok, who was a 12-year-old aspiring Olympian when he first watched Woo-jin compete at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The younger Kim realized his dream of making it to the Olympics three years ago in Tokyo, when he won the men’s team gold alongside Kim Woo-jin. The two doubled down on Monday.
“It’s an honor to be standing here with these guys,” Kim Je-deok said. “It’s been a grueling road to get here but it’s also been a lot of fun.”
Unlike the two Kims, Lee was competing in his first Olympic Games.
“I’d been dreaming about having an Olympic gold medal around my neck,” the 26-year-old said. “Now that I finally have it with me, I am just so thankful for my teammates.”
The three pulled and pushed each other in the final against a determined French team.
Kim Woo-jin. Lee Woo-seok and Kim Je-deok of South Korea (L to R) celebrate after winning the gold medal in the men’s archery team event at the Paris Olympics at Invalides in Paris on July 29, 2024. They each raised three fingers to signify South Korea’s third straight Olympic gold in that event. (Yonhap)
In the team archery event, archers each take two arrows per set, and the team with a higher total score in each set earns two points. A tie results in one point, and the goal is to get to five points first.
In the first set of the final, Kim Woo-jin backed up Kim Je-deok’s uncharacteristic 8 with a perfect 10. And when he wasn’t taking dead aim at the target, Je-deok was the loudest cheerleader on the field, shouting words of encouragement before his teammates took their shots, and screaming for joy and pumping his fist whenever they hit a 10.
And he had to do it six times in the final for Lee, who hit nothing but 10s with his six arrows across three sets.
South Korea had its share of fans in the stands at Invalides but they were no match against the boisterous and partisan French crowd. It could have been an intimidating environment for some, but Kim Je-deok said he fed off fans’ energy, regardless of whom they were supporting.
Kim Woo-jin of South Korea competes in the final of the men’s archery team event at the Paris Olympics at Invalides in Paris on July 29, 2024. (Yonhap)
“It was such an exhilarating experience to be competing in front of so many people,” he said. “I felt like we were finally in for a real match. And to win a gold medal in a setting like this makes it extra special.”
Lee said he tried to match Je-deok’s level of passion but it didn’t go very well.
“I ended up losing my voice,” Lee added with a smile. “But I got this gold medal in return, so it was all worth it.”
Kim Je-deok of South Korea competes in the final of the men’s archery team event at the Paris Olympics at Invalides in Paris on July 29, 2024. (Yonhap)
Kim Woo-jin recalled the much quieter setting during the Tokyo Olympics, where fans were not allowed to attend events due to COVID-19 restrictions. Only a few team-related personnel were on hand.
“Things were so quiet back then that it was easy to hear Je-deok’s screaming,” Kim said. “Today, for some reason, I didn’t think he was as loud. He should try harder next time.”
The archers are now off to the individual event and, in case of Kim Woo-jin, the mixed team event this week. If all goes well, Lee will meet Kim Woo-jin in the semifinals, and the winner of that match will take on Kim Je-deok in the final.
“We’re like family but I won’t take it easy on them,” Lee said. “That’s how it’s supposed to be in Korean archery. I am going to do my best and hopefully I can meet Woo-jin in the semifinals.”
Lee Woo-seok of South Korea competes in the final of the men’s archery team event at the Paris Olympics at Invalides in Paris on July 29, 2024. (Yonhap)
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