August 2011. Daegu was burning hot. On the eve of the opening of the IAAF World Championship, one of the world's top three sporting events. Spotlights were pouring on every single blast of superstars, including Lightning Usain Bolt, Beauty Bird Yishinbayeva, and Chinese hurdler hero Liuxiang.

National team chief Kim Hyun-seop also received a hot attention like never before. He was the most prominent medal candidate in the host country. It was that evening that Kim Hyun-seop felt weird about two days before the 20km warning final. After eating, I was going to rest in the village, but suddenly my stomach started to hurt. It was hard to breathe properly. I was carried to the emergency room with my trainer Lee Sang-hoon. Stress stomach cramps. First world championship in Korea. I didn't feel it, but it was a big burden.
I spent a day not eating properly. Kim Hyun-seop's head was just thinking 'you have to play anyway'. Two trainings forced me to recover from my physical condition.

28th of the second day of the convention. Kim Hyun-seop stood in front of the starting line. My condition was close to the worst. The shots rang and took the first step. Humidity is 85%. It was weather reminiscent of sauna. I walked insane. By the middle, they kept the 2nd group. 14 km. Gobi is here. It was painful. Power began to pour out. 16 km. Competitors began to hit. No more rankings could be maintained. I wanted to give up. The remaining distance to the final is 3km. Leading Russian players widen the gap. Kim Hyun-seop was quickly pushed out of the medal. I wanted to quit but couldn't. Daegu citizens who came to the streets in the heat shouted 'Kim Hyun-seop', 'Strengthen' and 'Fighting'. If you were in another country, you might have given up.
1 hour 21 minutes 17 seconds. Kim Hyun-seop crossed the finish line for the sixth time. The gap with the leading Borchin is 1 minute 21 seconds. Kim Hyun-seop fell down. I was taken to an emergency facility due to exhaustion. Only after being treated could I get back. An interview request followed. I was sorry. If you hadn't had stomach cramps two days ago. If you had eaten well and managed well. I would have been a little faster. But it was the result of trying my best.

"I can't win the medal, but I'm satisfied with sixth."

Twenty six. Kim Hyun-seop laughed brightly. 6th. In the 1993 competition marathon, Kim Jae-ryong ranked fourth in Korea's athletics after fourth place.
But it wasn't sixth. At that time, Russian athletes, who were ranked first and second, were caught in the 2016 Doping Test, and Kim Hyun-seop was fourth. Two years ago, Kim Hyun-seop received more news during training. At the end, I could have been a medalist if I had beaten one more guy. The difference from Amelnoyap (Russia), who was promoted to third, was only six seconds.

And last 20 days, a dramatic thing happened. IAAF has sent a letter to the Korean Athletic Federation. The result of the doping test was to deprive Amel No Yap of bronze and officially recognize Kim Hyun-seop as a new bronze medalist. Fighting against the worst conditions, he didn't give up and returned eight years later to be rewarded as the first Korean championship medalist in Korea.
The IAAF decided to hold a medal at the World Championships next month in Doha and give Kim Hyun-seop a medal. The 2011 Daegu Athletics World Championship 20km Bronze Medal is the real owner. Someone might call it a fisherman. You may say it's already past. But Kim Hyun-seop says, "It's glorious."

"'If you don't give up, chances come.' My motto is that I always give up when I want to give up during a game or training. I'm really lucky. "

Born in 1985, Kim is now 34 years old. The heyday has passed. Male warning 20km The present world first Yamanishi was born in 1996, and second place Ikeda (above Japan) was born in 1998, and are all in the early twenties. It is one of the strongest gold medal candidates for the next year's Tokyo Olympics. Kim Hyun-seop decides to give his last power in Tokyo next year when he turns 35. Injuries are more frequent and recovery time is longer, but they are refreshing. If you don't give up, chances will come.