Roller Jeong Cheol-won Apologizes for Careless Behavior After Losing Gold and Military Exemption Due to Ceremony [Asian Games]

"Regret Over Not Giving My Best Until the End"

Jeong Cheol-won (27, Andong City Hall), a national roller skating representative who lost the gold medal due to an early celebration at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, has issued an apology.

On the 5th, Jeong Cheol-won posted on his social media (SNS), "I acted recklessly as an athlete in the final of the 3000m team event at the Asian Games, which I should not have done," and added, "I sincerely apologize to my fellow athletes and many fans who competed with me. I am sorry."

In the men's speed roller skating 3,000m relay at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Korea's final runner Jeong Cheol-won is crossing the finish line in second place.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

He continued, "I sincerely regret and reflect on my actions of not giving my best as a representative athlete of the country until the end," and said, "I will always strive to be an athlete who gives their best until the very end."

On the 2nd, at the 3000m relay final held at the Qiantang Roller Sports Center in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, Jeong Cheol-won, who was the last runner, raised both arms in celebration just before the finish line. Meanwhile, a Taiwanese athlete extended his left foot and crossed the finish line first, resulting in Korea's upset defeat.

Korea (4 minutes 5.702 seconds) trailed Taiwan (4 minutes 5.692 seconds) by 0.01 seconds and took the silver medal. As a result, Jeong Cheol-won and his teammate Choi In-ho (22, Nonsan City Hall) did not receive military service exemption benefits.

After the race, Jeong Cheol-won wore the silver medal with a stern expression at the award ceremony and left the mixed zone with a tearful face. After the ceremony, he said, "I was careless," and apologized, saying, "I'm sorry for the effort we made together."

Jung Cheol-won, who won the silver medal in the men's speed skating 1,000m final at the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games, poses on the podium.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Jeong Cheol-won is the second Korean athlete to issue an apology after tennis player Kwon Soon-woo (Dangjin City Hall) at the Asian Games. Kwon posted a handwritten apology after unsportsmanlike behavior such as slamming his racket on the ground following his defeat to a Thai player in the men's singles second round on the 25th of last month.

Meanwhile, Choi Kwang-ho, who has already been exempted from military service due to ulcerative colitis, won the gold medal in the men's sprint 1000m earlier. Korean roller skating has won medals for three consecutive days since the event schedule began on the 30th of last month.