2 Korean swimmers make dreams come true in Rio Paralympics

2 Korean swimmers make dreams come true in Rio Paralympics. September. 10, 2016 07:10. by 리우데자네이루=이승건기자 why@donga.com. Korean swimmers Jo Gi-seong (21) and Lee In-kook (21) have won golds after the first day competition at the Rio Paralympic Games on Thursday local time. In the final of men’s 100m freestyle S4, Jo finished in 1:23.36 and brought Korea the first gold medal ever in freestyle at the Paralympics.

“I never had a dream before. I was afraid of what people might think of me and my life as a disabled," Jo said. "But I am confident now and I have secured the title of the first gold-winner in freestyle in Korea.”

Jo was born with brain lesions. He recalls a traumatic childhood memory when he was a third grade student at elementary school. A friend sitting next to him burst into tears and asked the homeroom teacher to change the seat. The world was a tough place for him to blend in with others. He began swimming in 2008 hoping it would help him walk. His mother, who prayed for him to stand on his feet, but he still cannot walk. With his two arms, however, Jo has become the fastest man in the water.

He took the third spot in the 50-meter event at the swimming competition hosted by Suwon City in 2009, becoming a professional swimmer. He made his name in the swimming world after winning the gold in 200-meter freestyle at the Incheon Asian Paralympic Games in 2014. Jo won two golds in 100-meter and 200-meter events at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, England, cementing his reputation as a swimmer. “This medal cannot even tell how hard I have worked," Jo said. "I want to dedicate my victory to my beloved parents, my dear sister who has not received much needed care because of me, my coaches and trainers and my idol Lim Woo-geun, gold medalist at the 2012 London Paralympics.”

On the same day, Lee In-kook, who has autism, won gold in men’s 100-meter backstroke S14, setting a new Paralympic record of 59.82. Back in 2012, he finished the preliminary round in the first place as the youngest swimmer at the London Paralympics, but he arrived the competition place three minutes late for the final. Swimmers were supposed to be at the designated location 20 minutes before the game. “I felt sorry for him but I was not interested in a medal. I was very proud of my son for his courage to overcome his fear of water and participating in the Paralympics," said his father Lee Kyung-rae. "I told On-kook's coach not to be disappointed since it was only a mistake.”

Lee could not speak even at the age of six. “I thought he would become fine when he grew old because my family had a history of late-talker. Unfortunately, things never got better even after he went to a school," the father said. "I was disappointed and felt sorry for my parents because he was the eldest son in my family. But I had to admit and accept him as he was. He was my son and I could not give up. I have always tried to do everything I can do for him. I am so happy to see him winning”

Cho Sun-young, the then coach for the national swimming team at the London Paralympics, could not be happier for Jo and Lee. After Lee’s disqualification in London, the former coach resigned from the team, and is now teaching swimming at a commercial swimming center. It was Cho who always stood by Jo whenever he wanted to quit swimming, and Jo finally won his gold at the Asian Paralympic Games.

Jo said his coach Cho was a blessing of his life. Cho has been teaching Jo and Lee. “They are talented swimmers and current coaches trained them well. I am filled with so much pride," said Cho, who stayed awake late at night to watch the finals. "I am relieved since Lee has won a gold medal in Rio. I appreciate his parents’ understanding about my mistake in London.”