"My juniors will fill my empty spot"
"I will create a culture where archery can be easily enjoyed"
Ki Bo-bae (36), who won two gold medals in women's archery at the 2012 London Olympics, has concluded her illustrious 27-year career as an athlete.
On the 14th, Ki Bo-bae held a retirement press conference at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, stating, "After 27 years since I first picked up a bow in 1997, I am ending my athletic career and returning to everyday life."
Olympic archery gold medalist Ki Bo-bae is holding a retirement press conference on the morning of the 14th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Ki Bo-bae won a gold medal in the team event at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and reached the pinnacle of the world stage by achieving two gold medals in both the individual and team events at the London Olympics. At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she earned a gold medal in the team event and a bronze medal in the individual event. In 2017, she was honored with the highest grade of the Korean Sports Medal, the Cheongryong Medal (Grade 1).
Even after getting married and giving birth in 2017, Ki Bo-bae continued her active career and returned to the national team last year for the Hangzhou Asian Games. However, she ultimately decided to lay down her bowstring. Ki Bo-bae expressed, "It was possible because of the support from the people," adding, "The gap I leave will be filled by strong juniors. My alma mater junior An San (Gwangju Women's University) is doing well," sending a message of encouragement.
Olympic archery gold medalist Ki Bo-bae is holding a retirement press conference on the morning of the 14th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Ki Bo-bae also recalled pulling the bowstring in the rain while two months pregnant, saying, "The medals I won in domestic competitions back then are as precious as Olympic medals." Regarding her daughter, she tearfully shared, "She had to be apart from her mother at an age when she wanted to be spoiled," and "I boarded the train after pushing away my daughter's tiny hands as she cried desperately, not wanting to be separated from her mother who she only met on weekends."
On the other hand, Ki Bo-bae said that due to the tension and pressure from endless competition, she would "never want to do archery again even if reborn." She continued, "I used to say I would never let my daughter do any sports, but she has such a strong competitive spirit that I think she will do well at whatever she tries," expressing her support for her daughter's dreams.
Olympic archery gold medalist Ki Bo-bae is receiving a gold medal made of 27 don of pure gold from her family to commemorate her 27 years as an athlete and posing for a commemorative photo at her retirement press conference held on the morning of the 14th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Ki Bo-bae plans to devote herself to popularizing archery in the future. She said, "I want to give back the overwhelming love and interest I have received from the public," and dreamed of "creating a culture where anyone can easily access and enjoy archery, and promoting archery even more."
Meanwhile, the Korea Archery Association presented a bouquet to Ki Bo-bae upon her retirement announcement. Holding a commemorative pure gold medal weighing 27 don (approximately 100 grams) made by her husband, daughter, and family to celebrate her 27 years as an athlete, Ki Bo-bae smiled and said, "It is much heavier than an Olympic gold medal."
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