[AG/english]Lee Jin-Taek, 2 Consecutive Victories in Athletics High Jump

The ability of Lee Jin-Taek doesn’t disappear.

Lee Jin-Taek, a champion of 1998 Bangkok Asian Game won the gold medal by jumping the height of 2m23 in the final of men’s high jump held in Busan Asiad Stadium on October 10. He has 2 consecutive victories and won totally 2 gold medals and 2 silver medals including the silver medal in 1994 Hirosima Asian Game. Kim Tae-Hwe (29) won the silver medal by jumping 2m19 with Wang Zhouzhou and Cui Kai jointly.

Lee Jin-Taek was lucky from the first trial. There is saying that he has bad result if he fails the first trial. As soon as he jumped the first 2m15 successfully, he was sure that he could win the gold medal.

He succeeded in jumping the height of 2m19 and 2m23 in the first trial. However, after winning the gold medal, he failed the height of 2.27meter owing to relaxation. The Korean record is 2.34 meter which he has.

Lee Jin-Taek once didn’t come out of a slump after being rejected in an elimination match in 2000 Sydney Olympics Game. However, through the victory of the Busan Asian Games, he showed his ability and position of the top athletes

He built up his physical strength through intensive training in New Zealand at the end of last year and changed an approach run through thorough analysis. He said “I once thought about a retirement, but I didn’t give up. I could win my self and had 2 wins for Asian Games.”

Lee Jin-Taek will get marry Kim Mi-Ok(27) participated as the woman high jump in the Busan Asian Game in December.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com