'41-Year-Old Breaking National Team Representative' Hong Ten Kim Hong-yeol: "I Want to Enjoy the Second Asian Games"

*This content was translated by AI.

"It's quite enjoyable, but honestly, my body is also tired."

Kim Hong-yeol (41), a breaking athlete for the 2026 Aichi·Nagoya (Japan) Asian Games national team, said with a smile. This was in response to questions about his activity as a breaking athlete and even as a national representative at such an advanced age. Speaking ahead of the Asian Games delegation determination ceremony held on the 3rd at the national team training village in Jincheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, he said, "It is indeed difficult. However, I want to keep challenging myself, so I continue to participate in competitions, and I keep getting opportunities."

Breaking was first adopted as an official sport at the 2022 Hangzhou (China) Games, followed by the 2024 Paris (France) Olympics, and is now an official sport for this Aichi·Nagoya Games. The format involves one-on-one battles to randomly played music, with judges determining round winners by comprehensively comparing technicality, diversity, originality, and musicality. Kim Hong-yeol will compete in this tournament following his participation in the Hangzhou Games and the Paris Olympics. He won a silver medal at the Hangzhou Games.

Considering the nature of the sport requiring extensive physical exertion, his age as a 1985-born athlete, and even the fact that he remains an active national team member, it is nothing short of remarkable. Kim Hong-yeol also feels the passage of time. He said with a laugh, "In the past, I definitely had plenty of energy, speed, and flexibility. When I watch old videos, it's amazing. I think things like 'He has changed so much' or 'He was so flexible.'"

Kim Hong-yeol continued, "However, my body cannot return to how it was before. Instead, as I pondered how to compete effectively, various approaches emerged regarding mentality, technical composition, music, and more. While I miss my past self, it seems I am now performing well in different ways suited to my experience." He added, "In the past, I thought I had to be strong, but now I feel that being smooth is also fine. It seems I have become calmer compared to the past."

With the Taegeuk mark on his chest, his goal for this tournament is 'to enjoy it.' At his first Games, he had strong ambitions for results and thus significant pressure; now, his goal is simply to enjoy himself and return. This mindset is rooted in his experience that better results often came when he did not obsess over outcomes.

Kim Hong-yeol said, "At my first Asian Games, there were many regrets. For this second tournament, I am actually happy to be going without high expectations. It's still fun that I can keep competing. At the first one, I went with a desperate desire to win; this time, I want to enjoy it and come back."

He continued, "Of course, it would be good if results turn out well, but I don't think we should focus on results while enjoying ourselves. Based on my experience so far, whenever I told myself not to think about results and just enjoy each moment, I often reached the finals and achieved good results." He added with a smile, "For now, I will try not to think about results as much as possible. If I just enjoy it, something good will surely happen."

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*This content was translated by AI.