August 09, (THEWILL) – South Korean Olympic silver medallist, Kim Ye-ji, was hospitalised after fainting during a press conference on Friday.
The 31-year-old pistol shooter, who gained worldwide attention for her calm demeanour during the 2024 Paris Olympics, collapsed while speaking to reporters in Imsil County, South Korea.
Officials reported that Kim has since recovered and transferred to a general hospital in Jeonju for further medical examination. Emergency workers stated that her condition did not require serious treatment. Kim’s coach, Kwak Min-su, attributed the incident to accumulated fatigue and a busy schedule since mid-July, noting that the athlete has no underlying health issues.
Kim’s silver medal performance in the women’s 10-metre air pistol event at the Paris Olympics catapulted her to internet stardom. A video clip of her competing at the Baku World Cup in May went viral, sparking fan art, memes, and edits set to K-pop music. Her distinctive style, featuring wire-rimmed shooting glasses and a baseball cap, drew praise from various celebrities, including Elon Musk.
Despite her success in the 10-metre event, Kim faced disappointment in the 25-metre competition. A timing error during the qualifying round prevented her from advancing to the finals, despite being a strong favourite for gold. She later apologised to her fans for the mistake.
The incident at the press conference has raised concerns about the pressure and demanding schedules faced by Olympic athletes.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
