"My Heart Beats Again" Lee Hanbit, How Did the Dramatic 'Emergency Trip to Paris' Happen? [Paris Olympics]

Mongolian Athlete Doping Violation Leads to Dramatic Qualification Spot Acquisition

Wrestling star Lee Han-bit (female, Wanju County Office), who had been denied the chance to participate in the Olympics, has dramatically secured a spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

According to the Korea Wrestling Federation on the 1st, Lee Han-bit will depart for Paris, France on the 3rd.

Initially, Lee Han-bit's Olympic participation was thwarted after losing to Purevdorj Urung (Mongolia) in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics Asian quota tournament held in Kyrgyzstan last April. However, after Urung was recently caught doping, the spot was given to Lee Han-bit as the next in line.

Hanbit Lee (29, Wanju County Office). [Image provided by Korea Wrestling Federation, Yonhap News Agency]

In a phone call with Yonhap News Agency on the same day, Lee Han-bit said, "I received the news at lunch today that I would be going to the Paris Olympics, and tears started flowing," adding, "Now that I will be stepping onto the stage I have longed for, I will compete without regrets." She continued, "My heart has started beating again," and said, "After ending the call, the first person I contacted was my father, and tears came out without me realizing it."

The women's freestyle 62kg category, in which Lee Han-bit will compete, will be held on the 9th and 10th. With Lee Han-bit's participation, the number of Korean athletes at the Paris Olympics has increased from 143 to 144.