On Saturday, the male archery team of South Korea gave to their homeland the first gold medal in the Rio Olympic Games.

The Korean trio, integrated by Kim Woo-jin, Ku Bon-chan, and Lee Seung-Yun obtained an undeniable victory after beating the U.S team by the set score of 6-0 at Sambodromo.  It looks like Korea has arrived in Rio with a goal that goes beyond just participating. The South Korean archery team avenged the loss they suffered four years ago in London Olympics to the U.S team, when the Americans ended the Korean dynasty in the archery team competition, given the fact that the representatives from the Asian country had won three times in a row before 2012 Olympic Games.

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South Korean men’s team archery shoots its way to gold. Image credit: Christopher Hanewinckel/USA Today Sports/NBC OlympicsC

Therefore, now the Koreans are back with a punishing training regime and tons of discipline, winning without a doubt and making former Edgewater resident Jake Kaminski, three-time Olympian Brady Ellison and Zach Garrett -from the U.S male archery team- settle with the silver recognition in Rio.

The hard work has certainly paid off for Korea. Experts say the Korean response was almost perfect and implacable. Ku (23), attained the maximum score of 10 points. On the other hand, the bronze medal was taken by the Australian team, celebrating its first archery medal in 12 years after defeating China.

Experts say the Korean response was almost perfect and implacable. Ku (23), attained the maximum score of 10 points. On the other hand, the bronze medal was taken by the Australian team, celebrating its first archery medal in 12 years after defeating China.

At the podium, next to the United States and Australia’s delegations, Ku kissed his long expected golden medal and Lee got sentimental while shedding tears during their national anthem. The team gained South Korea’s 20th archery gold medal from 37 Olympic titles since 1972, when the sport returned to its modern format. “I’ve been waiting for this moment, to get gold, for four years,” said Kim Woo-jin.”We trusted each other, and it happened. It just happened”, added the golden medalist.

More medals for South Korea

The victory of the archery trio made the Koreans celebrate just minutes before another representative in the Olympics from the Republic of Korea, Jeong Bo-kyeon, attained silver medal in judo in the category of women’s -48kg at the Carioca Arena 2. Jeong lost by a waza-ari (half-point) in the final to Argentinian athlete Paula Pareto. Although it was seen as a surprise that the Korean reached the finals, since she, who is ranked 8

Although it was seen as a surprise that the Korean reached the finals, since she, who is ranked 8th in the world, had to meet in the quarters   with No. 1 Urantsetseg Munkhbat from Mongolia, though the Korean managed to beat her opponent. Additionally, women’s volleyball team defeated Saturday Japan in a revenge since it lost to Japan back in London’s Olympics in 2012.

Unfortunately, as they celebrated some medals, South Korea saw other contestants fail in Rio Games. One of the biggest unexpected failed occurred at the Olympic Aquatics Centre, when swimmer Park Tae-hwan -2008 Olympic Champion and 2012 silver medal winner- couldn’t get to the finals in the 400m freestyle, finishing in the 10th position. He had a steady start but lost at the end. However, he will return to the games in the 200 meters freestyle on Sunday.

Source: The Korea Herald