"Today’s gold medal is simply considered as a reward for the effort put in"
"Last night, I dreamed of snakes?not pigs or dragons, but snakes. There were not just one, but several." The youngest member of the archery national team was already thinking about another gold medal. Seventeen-year-old Kim Je-deok (Gyeongbuk Ilgo), who teamed up with An San (Gwangju Women’s University) to win the first-ever Olympic mixed team archery gold medal, indirectly expressed his ambition for multiple titles at the press conference held after winning his first Olympic medal.
On the 24th, Kim Je-deok and An San achieved a comeback victory of 5-3 (35-38, 37-36, 36-33, 39-39) against the Dutch pair Steve Wijler and Gabriela Schloesser in the mixed team final at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field in Tokyo during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The start was a bit shaky. In the first set, An San scored only 8 points, totaling 35 points. The Netherlands scored 38 points, including two 10s.
The momentum shifted in the second set. Kim Je-deok and An San showed remarkable concentration to add 19 points after tying 18-18. The Dutch team faltered as Schloesser scored 8 points, allowing the set score to be tied at 2-2. Recalling that moment, Kim Je-deok said, "We hesitated." "Coach Hong Seung-jin told us, 'Don’t be greedy; focus on what you’ve practiced and what’s ours, and keep going.' I think the key was who could relieve the pressure faster and with more confidence. I just shot confidently."
Kim Je-deok and An San maintained their steady form and momentum. Especially in the third set, after shouting "Korea Fighting!", Kim Je-deok hit a perfect 10 with his first arrow, easing An San’s pressure. The Netherlands failed to catch up as Wijler scored only 6 points on his second shot. In the fourth set, Kim Je-deok consecutively scored 10 points, sealing the victory. He said, "I think today’s gold medal is simply the result of the effort we put in." Referring to the individual and team events, he added, "Dreams are just dreams. I believe you have to work hard to make them come true," reaffirming his determination.
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