In pictures seen around the globe throughout the Paris Olympics, Kim Yeji stands on the Chateauroux capturing vary, proper arm outstretched with an air pistol, physique leaning again with a chilled-out nonchalance. The world immediately takes discover. Of the black jacket and the white baseball cap. But additionally of the elephant plushie that hangs round her waist with a towel as she shoots. And it positively can’t get sufficient of these capturing glasses Kim Yeji sports activities with a blinder protecting her left eye. Earlier than lengthy, she’s proclaimed the ‘Coolest Olympian’ by the web.
Again residence within the Republic of Korea although, Kim Yeji, who gained the silver medal on the ladies’s 10m air pistol occasion the place Manu Bhaker gained her first Paris 2024 medal, has one other persona amongst her shut circle.
Paris Olympics silver medallist Kim Yeji says amongst her pals she’s referred to as the lifetime of the occasion. (PHOTOS: Korea Sport and Olympic Committee)
“Preserving composure is crucial to my career. If I can’t management myself, how can I management anything? After I’m aiming with a gun, my focus is solely on the duty at hand. As soon as the shot is fired, every thing turns into a part of the previous and I’ve to reset and begin once more. I consider this mindset has contributed to incomes the title of being a ‘cool’ athlete. (However) in on a regular basis life, I’m fairly totally different from how I’m after I’m capturing. Amongst my pals, I’m referred to as the lifetime of the occasion,” Kim Yeji tells The Indian Specific in an e-mail interplay coordinated by Korea Capturing.
“After I act vibrant and quirky, my pals simply settle for it as a part of who I’m. I consider the main focus and depth I convey to coaching are what earned me the nicknames ‘murderer’ and ‘cool athlete’.”
Yeji Kim units a brand new world document within the ladies’s 25m pistol pic.twitter.com/gN97y4lPgW
— Girls Posting W’s (@womenpostingws) July 30, 2024
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On the Paris Olympics, she experiences adulation like she’s by no means imagined. On the Athletes Village after her occasion, an Indonesian decide desires to take a photograph together with her and document them having a dialog so he can ship the clip to his household again residence. Another person presents her a cap. As she walks within the corridors, she’s greeted with “heat messages and cheers”.
The world media, too, can’t get sufficient of her.
Kim Yeji, the South Korean shooter who grew to become an in a single day viral sensation after successful a silver medal within the Paris Olympics. (PHOTOS: Korea Sport and Olympic Committee)
“Wanting like one thing between an knowledgeable diamond supplier and a crack sniper for some renegade sci-fi military, the web’s new favorite Olympian,” an NYT piece describes her. “Her stone-cold and unbothered demeanor was accented by her capturing glasses, seemingly taken proper out of a sci-fi film,” provides a bit in NBC. TIME journal gushes about her “aura successful the web”. GQ manufacturers her Paris Olympics’ “first breakout type star”. “She needs to be forged in an motion film. No performing required,” declares X proprietor Elon Musk.
“Whereas I nonetheless couldn’t consider the fact of successful a medal in Paris, the nice and cozy welcome I acquired in Korea has made it really feel actual. Many followers requested images, and evidently the recognition of capturing has elevated, for which I’m grateful to Musk. Regardless of the outcomes not being excellent, the abundance of congratulations and help has made me much more grateful. I consider the elevated consideration may be due to Musk’s affect,” says Kim Yeji.
Kim Yeji, the South Korean shooter who grew to become an in a single day viral sensation after successful a silver medal within the Paris Olympics. (PHOTOS: Korea Sport and Olympic Committee)
Earlier than the viral fame, her most well-known second in capturing, in accordance with her, was when she set a world document simply months earlier than the Paris Olympics.
“In Could 2024, I set a world document within the finals of the 25m pistol occasion on the Baku Capturing World Cup. That was essentially the most distinguished achievement. At the moment, since Jiin Yang was the reigning world document holder, many anticipated her to win the gold medal. Nonetheless, when an surprising competitor (like me) set a brand new world document and clinched the gold, it stunned many individuals in Korea,” recollects Kim Yeji.
Now again in South Korea, Kim Yeji is awaiting her likelihood to spend high quality time together with her little daughter.
“Upon returning residence, my first cease was to see my daughter. I hugged her tightly and mentioned, ‘Mommy’s again!’ I consider my return holds much more significance for her than the medal itself. Though I haven’t had the prospect but resulting from time constraints, I’d like to put the medal on her neck and ask, ‘Isn’t it heavy?’ when the chance arises,” Kim Yeji says earlier than including, “After turning into a mom, I promised myself to not be somebody to be ashamed of. I felt a robust sense of accountability to work arduous in order that my daughter can be happy with me when she grows up.”
Kim Yeji can be eager to debunk the story that the elephant plushie that hung round her waist on the Paris Olympics, was her daughter’s.
“The elephant plushie isn’t really a present from my daughter; it’s a towel. After capturing, my palms get lined in gunpowder, so my coach gave me this towel to scrub them. Its cute look presumably brought on some confusion. Some would possibly suppose the title on the plush is my daughter’s, nevertheless it’s really mine,” Kim Yeji says earlier than including: “I do have a really particular plush, although – a brown bear. It’s a significant merchandise for me as a working mom, serving to me really feel linked to my youngster even once we’re aside.”