<Anchor>



Ki-sung Jo, who achieved three freestyle gold medals in Rio in 2016, also challenged breaststroke for the first time in his life in Tokyo and finished sixth. It was a pleasant challenge that overcame many adverse conditions.



This is Lee Jeong-chan, a reporter from Tokyo.



<Reporter>



Ki-sung Jo, who won gold medals in the 50m following the 100m and 200m freestyle five years ago, is a professional freestyle athlete who achieved the first three swimming gold medals in the Korean Paralympic Games.



However, due to COVID-19, we have added one item.



When the swimming pool was closed and I once gained 12 kg in weight, I challenged the breaststroke by taking advantage of the improvement in buoyancy.



And today (25th), I participated in my first breaststroke event in Tokyo and broke the current without hesitation.



Because breaststroke requires stronger lower body strength than freestyle, it is an unfavorable challenge for premature players who have little use of leg strength due to congenital brain lesions.



However, Jogi-seong took 6th place out of 12 and advanced to the finals proudly.



Jo Ki-seong, who reached the final with confidence amidst the remote support of his parents who could not come to the scene due to Corona 19, poured all his energy with the start signal.



Ki-sung Jo, who took 6th place by breaking his own record at 51.58 seconds, was satisfied and showed sportsmanship to applaud the competitor who set the world record.




[Cho Ki-seong / Paralympic swimming national team: (About breaststroke challenge) There were a lot of suspicious glances around. But, this is how I broke my best record and I am standing here. I hope you don't worry about the doubts around you and do what you want to do.]



And

I

met my parents through a video and had a pleasant conversation.



[Cho Ki-seong / Paralympic swimming national team: (Ki Seong-ah, you did well!) I think my dad is crying? I love you!]



Jogi-seong, who is writing a new history of swimming for the disabled in Korea just by taking on a challenge, will go out again tomorrow for medal hunting in the 100m freestyle.



(Video coverage: Kim Yong-woo, video editing: Lee Jung-taek)