“Anxiety of retaliation over suspicion of intentional collision”
The Korean short track team showed the best teamwork at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, creating feats such as Choi Min-jeong (24, Seongnam City Hall, photo) and Hwang Dae-heon (23, Gangwon Provincial Office) winning gold medals.
But once the Olympics are over, it’s tense again. Shim Seok-hee (25, Seoul City Hall), who was suspended from qualifications for two months after a private message with the national team coach was released containing contents such as criticizing teammate Choi Min-jung at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in October last year, completed the disciplinary action on the 21st. It is the effect of announcing the return of the national team. There was great concern that the two players, who are known to have reached an extreme, could train together.
In the end, the fear seems to be becoming a reality. Choi Min-jung’s side sent an official letter to the Korea Skating Federation ahead of the entrance to the Jincheon Athlete’s Village, requesting “to avoid contact with specific athletes at places other than training.” The ‘specific player’ seems to refer to Shim Suk-hee.
All that Sports, Choi’s management agency, said in a press release on the 2nd, “Choi Min-jung is not coming to Jincheon Athlete’s Village to train with a specific athlete.” I am just joining the national team to do my best.” She continued, “Choi Min-jung has been stressed by allegations of intentional collision by a certain athlete, abusive language, and humiliation, and she is in a state of anxiety that there may be retaliation by a certain athlete during training or the world championships,” she said. .
The two players will enter the Jincheon Athlete’s Village on the 2nd and start training for the national team from the morning of the 3rd. Fans are keenly watching whether the two players, who seem to have crossed the river of no return, can coexist for one goal in the national team.
[ⓒ 세계일보 & Segye.com, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]