Published : Aug. 7, 2016 - 09:42
South Korean epee fencer Shin A-lam lost her first match at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Saturday, blowing a chance at redemption after a controversial elimination at the previous Summer Games.
Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald
Shin fell to Olena Kryvytska of Ukraine 15-14 in the round of 32 at Carioca Arena 3.
At the 2012 London Olympics, Shin lost to Britta Heidemann of Germany in the semifinals, after a timekeeping error cost her a clinching point in overtime and a spot in the final.
Shin later came away with silver in the team epee event.
She and Kryvytska were tied at 14-14 after three periods, but the Ukrainian scored the decisive point in the extra period to move on to the next stage.
Shin emerged as a tragic figure in light of the London controversy, but the 29-year-old will once again settle for a crack at a medal in the team event.
Shin said while the loss was disappointing, she also felt relieved in a way.
"It's been physically and mentally draining to get ready for the Olympics," she said. "And it's a relief to let it all go now.
I've done the best I can, and I can't do anything about the result."
She admitted the attention she'd attracted after London became a burden, though she tried not to think about it too much.
Shin said she considered Kryvytska the toughest opponent from Ukraine, and even if she'd won, even tougher matchups would have followed.
The South Korean managed to keep her emotions in check until she got on the phone with her mom.
"My goal was to win an individual medal, and this will leave a void in my career," Shin said. "But I am not ashamed of myself. I've put in a lot of work. The team competition is coming up (next Thursday) and I'll do my best there." (Yonhap)