*This content was translated by AI.
Pyeongchang's youngest eight years ago is now a strong pillar of Korea's ice, heading to the third Olympics. Jeong Jae-won (25, Gangwon Provincial Office), a long-distance speed skater, has taken the lead toward the 2026 Milan-Cortina D'Ampezzo Winter Olympics.
Jung Jae-won left for Milan, Italy, the final destination of the Korean team, via Incheon International Airport on the 30th.
As a 17-year-old high school student, he contributed to the team pursuit silver medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and won the silver medal at the mass start of the 2022 Beijing Games, but he will challenge the great achievement of "three consecutive Olympic medals."
After three Olympics, he became more mature. At the time of Pyeongchang, he was the youngest who followed his older brothers such as Lee Seung-hoon and Kim Min-seok, but now the situation has changed as a veteran and head of a family who led Cho Seung-min (Northeast High School) who was born in 2007.
Jeong Jae-won, who met at the departure hall, showed a veteran's leisure. "It's already the third Olympics, so I'm less nervous than the previous Olympics," he said. "I'm preparing for my departure a little more calmly because I'm sure how I'll prepare for the upcoming games."
Of course, it is full of competitive spirit. "It's an honor to win a medal in succession at the Pyeongchang and Beijing Winter Olympics, and I think it's a medal from heaven," Jung Jae-won said with humility, but added, "As I prepare for the third Olympics, I think I want to play without regret. At the same time, as the Olympics are approaching, my desire for medals grows," he said.
I also learned how to control my greed. Jung Jae-won said, "If you are too greedy, you can have a bad effect on the race," adding, "As the game approaches, I will rather empty my mind and ride it while enjoying it."
His relationship with Cho Seung-min, who will work together in this competition's men's mass start, is also special. Jung Jae-won, who recalled taking a picture with Cho Seung-min, an elementary school student, immediately after the PyeongChang competition, said, "I went to the Olympics with an elementary school student at the time. I also feel responsible because I think I'm not a high school rookie, but a long-distance veteran of the Korean ice speed," he said.
The fact that it is the first Olympics after marriage is an extraordinary motivation for Jung Jae-won. She got married two years ago and started a family, and was encouraged by her wife's support.
"I'm embarrassed, but my wife said something," Jung Jae-won said. "I'll be happy if (wife) wins a medal because I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy it because I'm burdened, but even if I don't win it, I'll wait in Korea, so pour everything I prepared." He said, "I will enjoy the race and have no regrets."
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*This content was translated by AI.
