[Opinion] A Midsummer Night's Drama... Generation Z's 'Mission Possible'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The 33rd Paris Olympics have ended. The start was unpromising: an expected five gold medals, popular ball sports eliminated in the preliminaries. The 7-hour time difference was predicted to result in low viewership ratings. The delegation of 144 athletes competing in 22 events was the smallest since the 1976 Montreal Olympics in Canada, 48 years ago. However, the results were different. Winning 32 medals and ranking 8th overall is impressive, but it is surprising that Germany is ranked below Korea. What happened to the national team?

In sports competitions where national representatives compete, more emphasis is placed on the word "nation" than "representative," and more weight is given to "competition" than "sports." The public becomes a temporary community cheering for the "nation's competition." Interviews with victorious athletes follow. "To the association president, coach, and trainers who have raised me so far..." When the title "Korea-Japan match" is attached, players inevitably achieve a kind of "psychological victory" beyond objective strength. Interviews continue with statements like, "I only thought we had to win because it was Korea-Japan." Deficiency breeds exaggeration. The media responds by reporting that the Taeguk "warriors" "defeated" their "archrival" Japan and delivered a "victory report." This is a chronic problem in journalism, but the frustrating interviews of the athletes also partly contributed to this.

The Paris Olympics, which achieved dazzling results, were different. Instead of solemnity, there was cheerfulness; instead of a sense of duty, confidence led to victory. The smallest delegation achieved the greatest success. I found this amazing efficiency in the athletes' words. Yang Ji-in, the 25m pistol gold medalist, told her parents, "Answer calls from unknown people. Reporters call when you win a medal," before departing. In the tense situation that went to a shoot-off, Yang confidently said, "My future self will handle it," and won the gold.

Knowing how to simplify the meaning of a brilliant victory is also a virtue of the winner. Oh Sang-wook, a two-time fencing champion, responded to a reporter's comment that he was extremely popular in Brazil by saying, "Me? Why?" He dismissed the media reports that he had captured the hearts of women worldwide in a single word. Shin Yu-bin, who lost the bronze medal match in women's singles table tennis against Japan, did not swallow her bitterness. She said, "My opponent was better than me in every way. I wonder how much effort she put in. I gave my best, so I feel relieved."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The background music at the Archery venue in Les Invalides was the national anthem. Kim Woo-jin, who won five Olympic gold medals, surpassing Jin Jong-oh who is now a member of the National Assembly, said, "Don't get drunk on gold medals. They dry up when the sun rises." Badminton player An Se-young's interview was bold to the point of shocking. It didn't seem like she won the gold medal and then had something to say; rather, it seemed as if she won the gold because she had something to say. Her determined remarks that overturned the festive atmosphere turned the Badminton Association into chaos, and the association is currently managing the aftermath.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

We remember many athletes who have brought honor to the nation through human triumphs. But the athletes who participated in this Olympics definitely look different. Their ability to turn d?j? vu into a fresh experience does not seem to have been learned from seniors or coaches. The average age of gold medalists was 27 at the Tokyo Olympics but dropped significantly to 24 this time, which is unlikely to be a coincidence. Ban Hyo-jin, the air rifle shooter, said, "I'm lacking too, but others aren't much better. I'm the best in the world anyway." When the Olympic flag taken by actor Tom Cruise flutters in LA, it will be 20 years old.