Geum Ui-hwan Shin Yubin "Next Time, I Will Change the Medal Color"

On the 12th, the Table Tennis National Team Returns Home via Incheon International Airport

Shin Yu-bin (20, Korean Air), who transformed from the "Nation's Ppiyak-i" to the "Table Tennis Icon" by winning two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, said, "Every match I played in this Olympics was a valuable experience," and expressed her bold determination, "Next time, I will change the color of my medals."

Korea's national table tennis player Shin Yu-bin is eating an energy jelly during a match at the Paris Olympics.
[Photo by YouTube screen capture]

The Korean table tennis team returned home on the afternoon of the 12th through Incheon Airport Terminal 2. In this tournament, the table tennis team won two bronze medals in mixed doubles and women's team events, achieving their best results in 12 years since the 2012 London Olympics. In particular, Shin Yu-bin became a 'multi-medalist' by winning two bronze medals after enduring a grueling schedule of 14 matches over 15 days since the opening of the Olympics. Shin Yu-bin is the fourth Korean table tennis player to become an Olympic multi-medalist, following Yoo Nam-gyu in the 1988 Seoul Games, Kim Taek-soo in the 1992 Barcelona Games, and Hyun Jung-hwa.

When asked about her thoughts after the tournament, Shin Yu-bin said, "I think we were able to win the medals because the team members, both older sisters and brothers, were united as one," and added, "I am grateful to everyone who competed together, and the team members worked very hard, so I ask for more congratulations."

She continued, "Every match I played in this Olympics was a valuable experience," and said, "It is an honor just to have been able to play such matches. Based on this experience, I want to become a player who grows even more." She also expressed her determination, saying, "I think this medal is just the beginning. I will work harder to change the color of my medals next time."

When asked if it was physically exhausting to play almost every day from the day after the Olympics opened on the 27th, she replied, "Physically, there was no problem, but mentally it was a bit tough because I sincerely gave my all in each match," and added, "Still, I tried to clear my mind well, and thanks to many people who helped me, I was able to keep going until the end."

Players Lim Jong-hoon, Lee Eun-hye, Jeon Ji-hee, and Shin Yu-bin of the Paris Olympic table tennis team returned home through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the afternoon of the 12th and are posing for a commemorative photo holding their medals.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Shin Yu-bin also became a hot topic for her 'mukbang' during the tournament. During breaks between matches, she was seen eating bananas, rice balls, peaches, energy gels, and more, which caught the attention of netizens both domestically and internationally, who called her "cute." When asked if she felt the popularity, Shin Yu-bin laughed and said, "Since I had to play many matches, I ate well to avoid getting tired," and added, "I ate so well that even now, after the tournament, I don't particularly crave anything."

Meanwhile, Lee Eun-hye, who naturalized from China in 2011 and won a bronze medal this time, said, "Thank you for the warm welcome and congratulations. I am happy with the good results and everything," and Jeon Ji-hee shared, "I am happy that the medal came after all the hard work. Thanks to the help of many people, I was able to win a medal after naturalization."

Lim Jong-hoon, who won the bronze medal in mixed doubles with Shin Yu-bin, said with a smile, "Thanks to Yu-bin, I was able to win a medal. I will express my gratitude separately." Lim Jong-hoon also expressed his hope, saying, "I hope that in the next Olympics, whether in men's singles or team events, the men's team can also win medals together."