[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Pole vaulter Jin Minseop, who competed in the Tokyo Olympics, was stopped by the 5.65m barrier.
On the 31st, Jin Minseop failed to secure a spot in the top 12 in the men's pole vault qualifying round at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium in Japan, missing the ticket to the finals.
That day, Jin Minseop easily cleared 5.30m and 5.50m on his first attempts.
However, he was stopped by the 5.65m barrier.
After failing his first attempt at 5.65m, Jin Minseop touched his right calf several times. On his second attempt, he touched the bar with his thigh, and on the third attempt, the pain increased so much that he could not even attempt a jump.
Jin Minseop's record that day was 5.50m.
In the men's pole vault at the Tokyo Olympics, among the 30 participants in the qualifying round, the top 12 or those who clear 5.80m advance to the finals.
Since 18 athletes had already cleared 5.65m, Jin Minseop's dream of advancing to the finals was dashed.
On March 1, 2020, Jin Minseop cleared 5.80m with a "borrowed pole" at the Bankstown Pole Vault Competition held in New South Wales, Australia. The 5.80m was the Tokyo Olympics qualifying standard and a Korean national record.
Earlier, when he departed for training camp in Australia, he was unable to load his 5.20m pole onto the plane due to baggage handling regulations at Sydney Airport. After arriving in Australia, through the connections and efforts of coach Kim Dokyun, he borrowed the pole of Steve Hooker (Australia), the gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Jin Minseop, who cleared 5.80m with an old pole that he was not yet accustomed to, became the first Korean pole vaulter to reach the Olympic finals stage in 33 years since Lee Jae-bok at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Jin Minseop was the first to qualify for the Olympic pole vault finals by surpassing the qualifying standard.
However, his dream of standing on the first final stage in Korean pole vault history was shattered due to calf pain.
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