Discussions

Jin-ho Park (47, Gangneung City Hall), the star of disabled shooting who won two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, was selected as the Korean team's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

In the vote of the Korea Paralympic Committee press corps announced on the 10th, Jin-ho Park received 23 out of 29 valid votes, comfortably beating out Ho-won Jeong (5 votes, boccia) and Hwang-tae Kim (1 vote, triathlon) to take the honor of receiving the most votes.

Jin-ho Park will receive a Toyota sports utility vehicle (SUV) 'RAV4 Hybrid' provided by Korea Toyota Motor Corporation.

At the Paris Paralympics, which ended on the 9th (Korean time), Jin-Ho Park won a gold medal in the R1 Men's 10m Air Rifle Standing (Sports Class SH1) event on the 31st of last month, and his second gold medal in the R7 Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions (Sports Class SH1) event on the 3rd.

It has been eight years since Jo Ki-seong (swimming, triple gold medalist) won multiple gold medals at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 that a Korean athlete has won multiple gold medals at the Paralympics.

In the fall of 2002, while attending a physical education college, Jin-ho Park suffered a spinal cord injury in a fall, which left him paralyzed in his lower extremities.

After that, he gave up his dream of becoming a sportsperson and started studying for the civil service exam, but with the dedicated help of his older sister, Park Kyung-mi, he took up the gun.

He also recalled that he received six months of group sniper training because he was good at shooting during his military service.

After much hard work, Jin-Ho Park became Korea's best disabled shooter.

He also reached the top by sweeping gold medals in major competitions such as the Asian Para Games and the World Para Shooting Championships.

However, he had no particular affinity for the Paralympics. He was considered a strong candidate for a double gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics, but failed to win a medal, and at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics held in 2021, he won a silver and bronze medal.

After a long wait, he achieved his dream of winning a gold medal on the Paris stage and went on to become the MVP of the Korean team.

Park Jin-ho met with reporters in downtown Paris on the 8th and said, "After winning my first gold medal, my condition gradually worsened, and I didn't feel well starting in the morning on the day of the second match," adding, "Fortunately, I took some medicine and was able to compete in top condition."

He said, "I was a little shaky in the beginning of my first game as a new recruit, but it's often the case that first games don't go well," and "the first series (5 shots) of the first game was difficult, but I was able to believe in myself and shoot because the score gap with the other players wasn't that big."

Park Jin-ho, who had a high body temperature, also fought against the heat.

He added, "I wore a cooling vest in the waiting room before entering the finals (at the indoor stadium)," and "It was difficult because they didn't have air conditioning, but I was able to get good results thanks to the help from those around me."

Park Jin-ho also expressed his gratitude to his older sister, Park Kyung-mi.

He said, "The day after I got hurt, my older sister quit her job and took care of me. She was by my side for over two years, and she was the happiest when I won the gold medal. I want to tell her thank you."

Jin-Ho Park, who was being interviewed with two gold medals around his neck, also received enthusiastic support and applause from the citizens of Paris.

After finishing the interview, Jin-ho Park responded with a broad smile to the photo requests from dozens of Parisian citizens.

source: https://bit.ly/outlookindiatoto