[News Figures] 10 Consecutive Wins in Archery? Boccia Legend 'Paralympic Legend' Jeong Ho-won Also Present

'Boccia legend' Jeong Ho-won (38, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Disabled Sports Association) won his fourth individual gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. With Jeong Ho-won's victory, South Korea has built a golden milestone of winning gold medals in 10 consecutive Paralympic Games.

On the 3rd (Korean time), Jeong Ho-won defeated Daniel Mitchell (Australia) 5-2 in the men's individual boccia final (sport classification BC3) held at Arena 1 in South Paris, France, during the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

The Paralympics is an international sports event for athletes with physical disabilities. Boccia is a sport exclusive to the Paralympics and not included in the Olympics, designed for people with severe cerebral palsy. Boccia was officially adopted as a sport at the 1984 LA Paralympics. Only athletes classified as cerebral palsy grade 1 and 2, or those with movement disabilities without cerebral palsy, are eligible to participate.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In a 6m by 12.5m court, players throw six red balls and six blue balls, scoring points by placing their balls closer to the white target ball. Matches are decided over 4 ends (6 ends in team events). Balls can be rolled by hand, kicked by foot, or thrown using assistive devices.

Jeong Ho-won competed in the BC3 classification, which is for athletes who cannot throw the ball by hand. Players use a ramp, and an assistant adjusts the height and angle of the ramp to roll the ball. Jeong Ho-won holds the ramp in his mouth during competition. Starting from the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, he has participated in five consecutive Games, winning gold medals in 2008 Beijing (pairs), 2016 Rio (individual), and 2020 Tokyo (pairs), making this his fourth gold medal.

Jeong Ho-won acquired a grade 1 cerebral palsy disability around 100 days after birth. His brain was injured when he fell from a bed while his mother briefly stepped away. Boccia, which he started playing at age twelve in 1998, gave him a new life. His physical education teacher encouraged him to try boccia. Jeong Ho-won earned the Taegeuk mark (national team selection) in 2002, just four years after starting the sport. He maintained the world number one ranking from 2009 to 2016. He also holds the record for the most Paralympic medals (7 total: 4 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze).

Life as an athlete was not always easy. After winning a medal at the Rio Paralympics, he lost his basic living subsidy due to the prize money (90 million KRW) he received, causing financial hardship. Fortunately, with the establishment of a boccia professional team in Gangwon Province, Jeong Ho-won was able to focus solely on training. His challenge is not over yet. Jeong Ho-won said, "My ultimate goal is to become a two-time double gold medalist. I want to add a fifth gold medal to my career."