Woo Sang-hyuk, Who has Constantly Proven Himself as a World Class Player, “I Don’t Want to Listen to People Saying it’s a Fluke”
Although it was difficult to participate in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, in Paris, he was a ‘candidate for the championship’
Until three years ago, Woo Sang-hyuk (27, Yongin City Hall) was a player who could not be guaranteed to participate in the Olympics.
In fact, he was anxious until the 'list of athletes' for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics was confirmed. 온라인카지노
However, now Woo Sang-hyuk is challenging to win the 2024 Paris Olympics as a ‘world-class jumper’ that is attracting attention from world athletics.
Woo Sang-hyuk met with reporters after completing public training at Incheon Munhak Stadium on the 15th and recalled the past three years in a concise manner.
He recalled, "Only those who have experienced it know the pressure felt by an athlete who has not been confirmed to participate in the Olympics.
In 2021, I checked the ranking points for participating in the Olympics every day."
On June 29, 2021, the last day of recognition of Tokyo Olympic ranking points, Woo Sang-hyuk exceeded his personal best of 2m31 at the time and won the right to participate in the Tokyo Olympics.
Among the 33 people who competed in the Tokyo Olympics finals, Woo Sang-hyuk's ranking was 31st.
However, Woo Sang-hyuk set a new Korean record of 2m35 in the Tokyo Olympics finals and ranked 4th, the best in Korean track and field.
Afterwards, Woo Sang-hyuk became an ‘invitee’ to major international track and field competitions.
However, in order to be recognized as the ‘world’s best jumper’, he had to build more experience.
Woo Sang-hyuk said, "After the Tokyo Olympics, some people probably judged me as a 'glittering athlete'.
I wanted to be remembered as a steady athlete, so I didn't say anything else, but I will work with coach Kim Do-gyun to win the championship at the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Belgrade.
“I prepared hard for the championships,” he said.
On March 20, 2022, Woo Sang-hyuk surpassed 2m34 and climbed to the top of the World Indoor Championships.
It was the first gold medal in a major competition in Korean track and field.
Afterwards, Woo Sang-hyuk continued to prove himself with shining medals.
Woo Sang-hyuk said, “Someone may have thought that winning the 2022 World Indoor Championships was a fluke,” and added, “I placed second (2m35) at the Eugene Outdoor World Championships in July 2022, but did not advance to the Diamond League Finals that year. Failure to advance to the
finals is a new opportunity.” “It motivated me, and I advanced to the Diamond League Finals in 2023 and won (2m35),” he said, recalling the moments that set a new milestone in Korean athletics.
Although he has already had many spectacular moments, Woo Sang-hyuk still looks ‘above’.
Woo Sang-hyuk's life goal is to win an Olympic gold medal.
He said with a smile, “I hope August 11th (Korean time), when the Paris Olympic finals are held, will be the most memorable moment in my track and field life.”
When Woo Sang-hyuk took the top spot in the Diamond League Final on September 17 last year, he far exceeded the Paris Olympic standard record (2m 32) and secured his right to participate in the Olympics early on.
He smiled and said, “I feel more at ease than when I was preparing for the Tokyo Olympics three years ago,” and added, “I feel desperate to get on the Olympic podium this time.”
Now, Woo Sang-hyuk is recognized by everyone as a candidate to win the Paris Olympics.
Woo Sang-hyuk said, "The height to challenge for the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, which coach Kim Do-gyun set, is 2m 37."
He added, "I attempted 2m 37 in two consecutive competitions in this year's indoor season.
Unfortunately, I once touched the bar.
Although I didn't get the exact movement I wanted, I thought, 'I can overcome it.'
“I also had a good feeling that it was there,” he said.
2m37 is the height that can guarantee victory in major athletics competitions.
The first place record at the 2019 Doha World Championships (Mutaz Essa Barsim), the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (Barsim and Gianmarco Tamberi joint winner), and the 2022 Eugene World Championships (Barsim) was also 2m 37.
At the 2023 Budapest World Championships, Tamberg won with 2m 36.
The Paris Olympics track and field men's high jump preliminaries will be held on August 7 at 6:10 PM Korean time (10:10 AM on the 7th local time) and will be held at 3:05 AM on August 11 (7 PM on the 10th local time). 5 minutes) to determine the winner of the medal.
Woo Sang-hyuk dreams of the thrilling scene of climbing to the top of the podium by exceeding 2m37 at the Paris Olympics.
To achieve this, I also started an ‘extreme diet’.
Woo Sang-hyuk said, “I can suppress my appetite well until August 11th,” and “I will do anything to win a medal at the Paris Olympics.”