Father Time catches up with erstwhile gold medalists
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| Jin Jong-oh competes in the men's 10-meter air pistol competition at the Tokyo Olympics, Saturday. Yonhap |
By Kang Seung-woo
It is often said in sports circles that Father Time is undefeated. This expression currently applies at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, where veteran Olympians are struggling to medal.
Some of the nation's former champions are participating in the Summer Games, hoping to prove that they still had some fuel left in their tanks, but age has prevented them from unleashing their vintage form.
Shooter Jin Jong-oh, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time silver medalist, participated in the men's 10-meter air pistol, but failed to make the final after ranking 15th in the preliminary rounds.
Although it was expected to be a tough fight because the 50-meter pistol competition was dropped from the Tokyo Games, he was a medal contender behind his gold medal in the event at the 2012 London Olympics.
Gu Bon-gil, 32, a member of the gold medal-winning sabre team in 2012, was also eliminated in the round of 32 in the men's individual sabre competition.
"I was nervous to compete in the Olympic event, 먹튀검증사이트 no spectators in the stands," Gu said.
Gu, 32, a member of the men's sabre team, will participate in the team event, scheduled for Wednesday, in an attempt to show that old dogs can still bite.
Gymnast Yang Hak-seon, who won the gold in the men's vault at the London Olympics, has failed to advance to the final after finishing ninth in qualification.
Hampered by a hamstring injury, the 28-year-old "God of the Vault" could not put in a strong performance Saturday.
Kim Ji-yeon, who won gold in the women's individual sabre at the London Olympics, also came up short in Tokyo.
The 33-year-old lost in the round of 16 to Mariel Zagunis of the United States 15-12. Nine years ago, Kim defeated Zagunis in the semifinals en route to the top spot on the podium.
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| Fencer Kim Ji-yeon reacts to her loss to Mariel Zagunis of the United States in the round of 16 in the women's individual sabre competition at the Tokyo Olympics, Monday. Yonhap |
International athletes have also fallen victim to Father Time.
Two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Wu Jingyu of China was appearing in her fourth Summer Games, but the 34-year-old was overwhelmed 33-2 by Spanish teenage sensation Adriana Cerezo in the quarterfinals of the women's 49-kilogram event.
"Age matters," said Wu, who won one gold each in the 47 kilograms in Beijing and the 49 kilograms in London. "At the very moment when the rival athlete was approaching, I could literally feel her speed and assault."
Although age is catching up on some veteran Olympians, some athletes are defying their age and providing solid performances, as highlighted by Korean archer Oh Jin-hyek, 39, who won gold in the men's team event, Monday.
Oh, who also won the gold in the individual event in London, was widely expected to hang up his bow in 2017 when he suffered from a serious injury to his right shoulder, which prevented him from drawing a bow.
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