"I was more nervous about the ceremonial first pitch than a judo match": Descendant of an independence activist makes a surprising confession; Asian Games gold medalist Heo Mi-mi's next goal is Olympic gold [KS4 On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Heo Mi-mi (24, Gyeongbuk Provincial Sports Council), a 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist and 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games gold medalist, was more nervous about the Korea Series ceremonial first pitch than competing in judo matches against world-class athletes.

Heo served as the ceremonial first pitcher for Game 4 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series (best-of-seven) between the Samsung Lions and KT Wiz on the 7th at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Singer Hong I-sak led the national anthem that day.

After completing the pitch, Heo told reporters, "I was more nervous than in a judo match. It was very nerve-wracking, but the sense of honor was so great that I was truly happy," smiling. She added, "Baseball is incredibly popular, so I had been interested in it. I am truly honored to have made it this far to pitch at the Korea Series."

Even for an athlete who has experienced numerous finals on the international stage, a baseball stadium was unfamiliar territory. Heo said, "Judo and baseball are completely different, aren't they? I thought the baseball players were truly amazing," adding, "I get this nervous just doing the ceremonial pitch, so I wondered how tense it must be for the players." Regarding her own pitch, she simply smiled brightly and said, "I was satisfied with it."

Heo is a star representing Korean judo. Born and raised in Japan to a Korean father and Japanese mother, she chose South Korea and renounced her Japanese citizenship in 2021, following her grandmother's dying wish to see her compete as a member of the national team.

In particular, she is the fifth-generation descendant of Heo Seok, an independence activist who led anti-Japanese resistance movements during the Japanese colonial period. She learned about her family history late in the process of registering as a Korean athlete, which subsequently instilled in her a unique sense of responsibility toward the national emblem.

Her skills were also world-class. She won the gold medal in the women's 57 kg category at the 2024 Abu Dhabi World Judo Championships. In the same year, she earned a silver medal in the women's 57 kg category and a bronze medal in the mixed team event at the Paris Olympics, emerging as a new flagship of Korean judo.

However, she fell short of an Olympic gold medal. After returning home at the time, she visited Heo Seok's memorial stele in Gunwi, Daegu, to offer her medals and vowed to bring back a gold medal next time.

She kept that promise this year. In October, Heo defeated Terbish Ariunjargal (Mongolia) in the final of the women's 57 kg judo event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games to win the gold medal. It was a moment when an athlete born and raised in Japan raised the South Korean flag on the highest step of the podium at an Asian Games held in Japan.

After winning the gold medal, she again visited a place honoring her independence activist ancestors. Heo reflected, "I brought them the gold medal, and it reminded me of the moment I took my medals there after the Olympics. At that time, I had taken a silver and a bronze, but this time I was able to bring a gold medal, so it felt like I truly wrapped up the tournament well." She emphasized, "I strongly felt that next time, I absolutely must bring back an Olympic gold medal."

The descendant of an independence activist is now preparing for a new challenge. Ending her tenure with the Gyeongbuk Provincial Sports Council, where she had been based for a long time, after this year, she plans to continue her athletic career under the Namyangju City Hall starting next year. Heo explained her decision to transfer by saying, "I wanted to start anew again. I have high expectations and think I can show a new side of myself."

Her physical condition is not currently at its peak. When asked about the state of both her knees, Heo revealed, "I haven't had an examination yet. It seems I need to get checked and manage it while undergoing treatment. I have had quite a few injuries, so I think I will need to work hard on treatment and rehabilitation during the winter."

She added, "I haven't participated in many international tournaments recently, so my world ranking points have dropped. Next year, I plan to gradually participate in international competitions to improve my condition and game sense," emphasizing, "My biggest goal is to win gold medals at next year's Asian Championships and World Championships."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original