Gwangju Sports Dream Trees Win a Total of 58 Medals at the National Youth Sports Festival

The young athletes of Gwangju sports shone the future of Gwangju sports by winning a total of 58 medals?18 gold, 18 silver, and 22 bronze?at the ‘53rd National Youth Sports Festival’ held across Mokpo, Jeollanam-do.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan City Sports Council on the 28th, the gold medal race began on the first day with Kang Sujeong (Gwangju Sports Middle School, Grade 2) winning gold in the 50m archery event.

Gwangju Supia Girls' Middle School is taking a commemorative photo after achieving a record of three consecutive championships.
[Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City Sports Council]

Lee Ruri (Gwangju Sports Middle School, Grade 2), the first triple crown winner under 15 years old in the history of the modern pentathlon at the Youth Sports Festival, led victories in the individual event, team event, and relay, and was selected as the best modern pentathlon athlete.

Teammates Lee Jia (Grade 3), Song Hyunseo (Grade 3), and Yang Bomin (Grade 2) from Gwangju Sports Middle School also won gold medals in the team event and relay with excellent teamwork, setting a remarkable record of one triple crown and three double crowns in modern pentathlon.

In weightlifting, Lee Da-eun (Gwangju Sports Middle School, Grade 3) swept three gold medals in the +81kg category with a 77kg snatch, 98kg clean and jerk, and a total of 175kg. Last month, she won the 35th National Spring Women’s Weightlifting Competition with a 60kg snatch, 75kg clean and jerk, and a total of 135kg, achieving her goal of a triple crown at the Youth Sports Festival in top condition.

In archery, Kang Sujeong (Gwangju Sports Middle School, Grade 2) won gold with 330 points in the 50m event, followed by Kim Jongyeon (Gwangju Sports Middle School, Grade 3) with 349 points in the 40m event. The gold medal streak continued with wrestling G51kg Kim Seongsu (Gwangju Sports Middle School, Grade 3), F92kg Choi Jiwon (Gwangju Sports Middle School, Grade 2), taekwondo 53-57kg Choi Jinyoung (Sangmu Middle School, Grade 3), rowing singles scull Noh Hyorim (Gwangju Sports Middle School, Grade 3), aerobics hip-hop U15 individual Lee Taemin, and U12 trio Lee Doyoung, Heo Yul, and Park Jiwan.

The Gwangju selection team (Gidae-hyun, Kim Sehwan, Lee Jihoon) competing in the boys’ under-15 Go event won silver after losing to another selection team in the finals.

In swimming diving under 12, Lee Seonyeong (Hyogwang Elementary School, Grade 6) and wrestling lightweight Im Cheolhwan (Hwajeongnam Elementary School, Grade 6) added silver medals, and the Gwangju selection team in boys’ under-12 kendo, aiming for a fourth consecutive team victory, earned a bronze medal.

On the final day of the competition, Dongsung Middle School was selected as the Gwangju representative team for the boys’ under-15 baseball event for the first time in 10 years. They won the final of the 53rd National Youth Sports Festival against Gangnam Middle School (Seoul) 9-7, capturing the championship trophy for the first time in 20 years since the 33rd National Youth Sports Festival. Player Lee Je-ung (Dongsung Middle School, Grade 3) was named the most valuable player.

In the following basketball competition, Gwangju Supia Girls’ Middle School achieved a historic third consecutive championship in the girls’ under-16 category. They defeated their middle school rival Sookmyung Girls’ Middle School (Seoul) 54-50 in the first round and comfortably won the final against Suwon Jeil Middle School (Gyeonggi) 77-56 by leveraging their teamwork, achieving a three-peat following the previous tournament. Player Kim Damhee (Supia Girls’ Middle School, Grade 3) was selected as the tournament’s most valuable player, marking a grand finale.

Gwangju Sports Middle School (Principal Lee Junjae), which won 30 of the medals earned by the Gwangju delegation, confirmed its status as the cradle of elite sports in Gwangju. Based on well-equipped training facilities, the dedicated efforts of coaches, and scientific training, it has always been alongside the glory of Gwangju and Korean sports.

Jeon Gapsu, chairman of the Gwangju Sports Council, said, “Regardless of winning or losing, I was deeply moved by the athletes who gave their best. This achievement is the result of the athletes’ sweat, support from sports organizations, love from schools and parents, and the passion of coaches.” He added, “With the support of the local community and citizens’ encouragement, the Gwangju Sports Council will also strive harder through active sports administration to develop school sports and youth sports.”