Korea Wins First Relay Gold in Track and Field... Revealed as Former "Descendants of the Sun" Child Actor

First-Ever Men's 4x100m Relay Victory at Universiade
The "Goat Boy" Child Actor from "Descendants of the Sun"

Korean track and field has achieved a historic milestone by winning its first-ever gold medal in a relay event at a global multi-sport competition. Among the key athletes, it has come to light that one of them was formerly a child actor in the drama "Descendants of the Sun," drawing significant public attention.

On July 27 (local time), at the final of the men's 4x100m relay at the Rhine-Ruhr Summer Universiade in Germany, the Korean national team?composed of Seo Minjun (Seocheon County Office), Namadi Joeljin (Yecheon County Office), Lee Jaeseong (Gwangju City Hall), and Kim Jungyun (Korea National Sport University)?won the gold medal with a time of 38.50 seconds. This marks the first time Korea has ever won a relay event at a global track and field competition.

Korea's First Relay Gold Medalist's Surprising Background... The Child Actor from "Descendants of the Sun"

Namadi Joel Jin, a player affiliated with Yecheon County Office. Provided by Yecheon County

It has been revealed that among the relay members, Joeljin appeared as a child actor in the 2016 KBS drama "Descendants of the Sun," starring Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki. In the drama, he played a boy who, when given shoes as a gift by Dr. Chihoon (played by Onew), who was volunteering for medical service, replied, "Not these, buy me a goat. I want to raise a goat," earning him the nickname "Goat Boy."

Joeljin was born to a Korean mother and a Nigerian father. Encouraged by his father, a former Nigerian long jump athlete, Joeljin began track and field in the fifth grade of elementary school. Last year, he set a new Korean high school record by running 100m in 10.30 seconds, and in April this year, he placed first in the men's 100m at the Asian Athletics Championships national trials. In May, at the men's 4x100m relay final of the Asian Athletics Championships, he set a new Korean record with a time of 38.49 seconds and won Korea's first-ever gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the Asian Championships.

Currently, Joeljin is focusing on training to strengthen his muscles and improve his explosiveness in order to overcome his weakness at the start and maximize his strength in the acceleration phase towards the end of the race. Experts note that "he is an athlete whose future in the coming years is even more promising than now." It is generally known that the peak performance age for sprinters is between 25 and 30. Having just entered the adult stage of his career, Joeljin is expected to move closer to his dreams of "breaking into the 9-second range in the 100m" and "competing at the Olympics" as he gains more international experience and refines his technical skills.