Judoka reigns

Kim captures gold; Choi bags fencing bronze


Judoka Kim Jae-bum captured Korea’s first judo gold in the London 2012 Olympic Games Tuesday.

In the men’s under-81kg final, 27-year-old Kim outclassed Ole Bischof from Germany on two yuko scores early in the contest.

His victory was a reversal of the final in the Beijing Olympics, where Bischof beat Kim.

It was Korea’s third gold medal and second judo medal of the Games. Earlier this week, teammate Cho Jun-ho won a bronze in the 66kg category after losing the quarterfinal on a controversial overrule of his win.

Kim came onto the mat as a two-time world and four-time Asian champion, as well as an Asian Games gold medalist. The victory gave him the one major title missing from his career: an Olympic crown. Kim also set a milestone for the 10th gold won by South Korea in Olympic judo. 

Korea’s Kim Jae-bum celebrates after winning the gold medal on Tuesday. (London Olympic Joint Press Corps)

He fought dogging injuries on the way to the top of the podium.

Kim dislocated his left shoulder during a competition in December last year and suffered a left knee ligament injury recently.

And he got ready for the Olympics with Bischof on his mind all along.

“I really wanted to take on Bischof again, and my wish came true,” Kim told reporters afterward. “I wanted to pour out everything I had. And I got a great result at the end.”

The German expressed respect for the man who displaced him.

“Four years ago, he was quite young and was the Asian champion. Now I’m four years older while he’s developed,” he said. “He’s much stronger and quicker. He deserved to be champion and I’m happy he got the gold medal.”

Fencer Choi Byung-chul added a bronze medal, South Korea’s first medal in the event. He edged Andrea Baldini of Italy 15-14 in the bronze medal contest, and became the first South Korean male fencer to win an Olympic medal in 12 years after Sydney in 2000. Choi placed ninth in Beijing four years ago.

Korea’s Choi Byung-chul celebrates his bronze-medal victory. ( London Olympic Joint Press Corps)

His medal came a day after a disputed win in the semifinal went to German Britta Heideman and cost epee teammate Shin A-lam her chance for gold. “I am honored to earn the first fencing medal for the country,” Choi said. “Now that I have the first one, I hope my teammates can cheer up.”

He said his injured ankle made things tough in the final match, but added: “I’ve always competed while hurt and I am a quick healer.”

In the medal race through Tuesday, South Korea ranked fourth with three gold, two silver and three bronze medals, behind China, the U.S. and France.

orea has set out to grab at least 10 gold medals for its third successive top-10 finish at the Summer Olympics. Its gold medal tally so far falls below an early projection by the Korean Olympic Committee, but officials expect more medals to come especially from taekwondo, archery, vault in gymnastics, men’s badminton doubles, boxing and wrestling.

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)