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Olympic Gold Medalist Choi Min-jeong Shares Her Journey on 'You Quiz on the Block'
The episode featured Choi Min-jeong, the athlete with the most gold medals in Korean Olympic history, and her mother.
Intense Training from Dawn to Night
Choi Min-jeong recounted her rigorous training routine, practically living at the ice rink from a young age. She would wake up at 5 AM and train until 10 PM. Her mother's unwavering support was crucial to her success.
Before gaining fame, athletes often struggle to secure sponsorships, leading to significant expenses. Choi's mother confessed, "I tried working part-time, but it was too exhausting. I had to pick up Min-jeong." She continued, "We had no choice but to sell the house to cover training and living expenses."
Young Choi Min-jeong once asked her mother why their house kept getting smaller. Her mother humorously replied, "Because of you," while expressing the financial challenges they faced.
To support Choi's training, the family moved 12 times, and her mother drove 250,000 kilometers over 10 years, juggling school and the ice rink with packed lunches. Raising two daughters close in age, her mother candidly admitted, "It was tough."
Choosing Skating Despite Hardships
There were times when her mother wished Choi would quit the sport due to the hardships. Choi recalled, "I asked for a week to think about it, but after three days, I knew I couldn't give up skating. Even while studying or skating, I realized, 'I have to skate.'"
Choi expressed her gratitude towards her mother, saying, "Honestly, I couldn't live like my mom. I think it was harder for her than for me as an athlete."
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
