'1-Point Archer' Israel Madaye
"Korea, Thank You for Loving Me"
In the men's archery event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Israel Madaye (36) from Chad, Africa, who became a hot topic after scoring 1 point against Kim Woo-jin (32, Cheongju City Hall), expressed his affection for Korea.
On the 22nd (local time), Madaye posted a photo of the Taegeukgi on his Instagram and wrote, "I like this flag (J’aime le drapeau)." Earlier, after finishing the Paris Olympics, he had expressed his gratitude to Korean fans who cheered for him. On the 16th, he said, "I always love Koreans. Thank you once again," and on the 15th, he also said, "Thank you for loving Korea."
In the men's archery event at the Paris Olympics, athlete Madaye (left), who made headlines by scoring 1 point, and the Taegeukgi flag he raised. [Image source=Israel Madaye SNS]
Previously, on the 30th of last month, Madaye met Kim Woo-jin in the men's individual archery round of 64 held at the Les Invalides Archery Venue in Paris, France, and became a hot topic for scoring 1 point. Scoring just 1 point difference in an Olympic archery match is rare. Moreover, Madaye attracted attention for wearing a plain T-shirt without any sponsors, unlike other athletes, and for not wearing protective gear such as a chest guard.
After the match, it was revealed that Madaye was born in Chad, one of the poorest countries in Africa, and learned archery by self-study due to the lack of professional equipment and coaching, which led to an outpouring of support from Koreans.
Warm gestures toward him are also continuing. Korean archery equipment manufacturer ‘Pybix’ signed a sponsorship contract with Madaye and agreed to provide the necessary supplies for training and competition every year until the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics. Additionally, Gwangju Metropolitan City is planning to invite Madaye to the World Archery Championships to be held in Gwangju next September.
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