Lee Bongju Moves and Inspires by Completing 5km Run After Overcoming a Rare Disease
Lee Bongju, the 55-year-old "marathon hero" who once struggled to even walk due to an unknown intractable disease, moved viewers by successfully completing a 5km run after regaining his health.
Lee Bongju appeared in a video released on December 3 on singer Sean's YouTube channel, "With Sean." On this day, Sean invited 20 runners to participate in a relay run. Each person ran 5km in turn, aiming to achieve a total of 100,000 steps within seven hours. Lee Bongju appeared as the 17th runner in the event.
Running Again After Overcoming a Rare Disease... Completes 5km in 22 Minutes and 30 Seconds
When Sean asked about his health, Lee Bongju confidently replied, "I even went to Vietnam last week and ran 10km." Cheered on by everyone, Lee Bongju steadily ran laps around the track. Although he appeared out of breath in the latter part, he maintained his pace without slowing down.
Sean commented, "Watching you run, you seem much healthier," adding, "It's so moving and amazing." He continued, "It's truly a miracle. Not long ago, even moving was difficult, but through rehabilitation, you can now walk and even run again. The only word to describe you is 'phoenix.'" On this day, Lee Bongju maintained a 4:30 pace and completed 5km in 22 minutes and 30 seconds.
Four Years Battling Dystonia... "I'm Much Better Now"
Previously, in early 2020, Lee Bongju suffered from unexplained pain and was diagnosed with dystonia, a rare and incurable disease. This condition occurs due to abnormalities in the central nervous system that controls muscle contraction and tension. It causes symptoms such as involuntary twisting or repetitive movements of certain body parts, regardless of one's will.
Lee Bongju after being diagnosed with dystonia, a rare incurable disease. His back and neck are bent forward. SBS
In particular, many cases involve the neck twisting and tilting, and Lee Bongju also experienced his upper body bending forward and his neck bending at a 90-degree angle. He found it difficult to walk without a cane and sometimes used a wheelchair.
Afterward, Lee Bongju steadily underwent rehabilitation for four years and regained enough health to run again. Earlier this year, he appeared on a TV program and said, "My health has improved a lot. When I was sick, I desperately wished I could run for even just 30 minutes, but now I wake up every morning and go hiking or running for an hour or two."
Lee Bongju is a "national marathoner" who holds records such as the silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, gold medal at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, victory at the 2001 Boston Marathon, and gold medal at the 2002 Busan Asian Games. He also holds the remarkable achievement of setting the Korean marathon record three times, and his record of 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 20 seconds has remained unbroken for 24 years.
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