South Korean Olympic shooter Kim Ye-ji embraces newfound fame: Video
Kim Ye-ji, the South Korean shooter who took home silver in the women’s 10 metre air pistol at the Paris Olympics, has not only secured a place on the podium but also captured the hearts of millions with her calm demeanour.
Her composed performance during the competition made her an internet sensation, leading to a surge in global attention.
"People now refer to me as 'Shooter Kim Ye-ji,' rather than just 'Kim Ye-ji'," she told the AFP adding, "I want to continue working so that the word 'shooter' will always be associated with me."
Since her Olympic success, Kim, 32, has been overwhelmed with interview requests, modelling offers from luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, and even an invitation to appear in a short film as an assassin alongside Indian actress Anushka Sen. Despite the whirlwind of attention, Kim remains humble, expressing that she plans to continue working hard to maintain or improve her performance. "I don’t think my level will drop," she said confidently.
Kim’s journey into shooting started unexpectedly. At the age of 12, while attending a gym class, her PE teacher, who was also a shooting director, asked students to raise their hands if they wanted to try shooting. When no one volunteered, the director randomly selected names, and Kim was one of them. At that time, she could barely lift the gun, weighing less than 30 kilograms in her first year of middle school. “I didn’t have the strength to hold the gun with one hand,” she recalled.
Though shooting wasn’t her initial goal, watching older students at the range working hard to win first place inspired her. She, too, wanted to stand at the top. Her hard work paid off, and now, she’s not only a national champion but an international sensation.
While she embraces her newfound fame, Kim remains focused on her sport. "I think I could keep shooting until I’m 50," she mused. She also hopes that even when she engages in activities outside of shooting, people will still remember her for her skills on the range.
