From February 22 to 25, the 105th National Winter Sports Festival, hosted by the Korean Sports and Olympic Committee, was held in the province of Gangwon. The National Winter Sports Festival has contributed to fostering outstanding athletes and has helped develop Korean winter sports. A total of 19 cities and provinces, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon, participated, and a sports team from Dankook University (DKU) Cheonan Campus took part as a representative of Chungcheongnam-do Province. Led by sports manager Yeom Gyeong-ho, the team ranked 11th in this 105th Sports Festival, winning 20 medals.

 

▲ DKU Ski Team Receiving Gold Medal in 30km Relay (Photo from DKU Portal)

   The events were varied, including ice skating, skiing, ice hockey, and curling. The 25 athletes from DKU’s School of International Sports Studies participated in short track and speed skating and alpine and cross-country skiing. The group won nine gold medals, seven silver, and four bronze. Yeom Gyeong-ho said, “Not only did each athlete make a strong effort, but also the entire team pulled together to get these results,” adding, “I am very proud of the achievements our athletes accomplished during the competition.” Notably, the sports team had remarkable outcomes in cross-country skiing, winning five gold, three silver, and one bronze medal. Cross-country is a marathon on skis. The course includes hills and is divided into classical and skating styles. To learn more about the experience, The Dankook Herald (DKH) interviewed cross-country athletes Lee Joon-seo (Junior, International Sports Studies Major), a member of the national team, and Jeon Je-kyun (Sophomore, International Sports Studies Major), a nominee for the national team.

 

First of all, congratulations on winning 20 medals at the 105th National Winter Sports Festival! How do you feel about all of these great performances?

Lee Joon-seo: At this Winter National Sports Festival, I earned five medals, including three gold medals, a silver medal, and a bronze medal, which is a satisfactory result. However, I should aim for better results next year by achieving five gold medals.

Jeon Je-kyun: First, I am happy to have achieved good results using what I learned from my seniors and coaches. I am joyfully preparing for next season.

 

▲ Lee Joon-seo (Left) in the Race (Photo from DKU Portal)

What is the main factor that made you decide to participate in this?

Lee Joon-seo: My elementary school was famous for skiing. I liked sports, so I started skiing in the third grade, got scouted in high school, and kept going. Also, as a national team member, I do my best in all competitions, knowing that I have that much responsibility.

Jeon Je-kyun: I liked running since I was young. There was a cross-country ski team at my school. It was an unfamiliar sport to me, so I became curious. Although it is an unpopular sport, the competition is fierce, and above all, I learned the charm of cross-country racing. So, I have continued to this day.

 

As it is a national competition, a lot of effort seems to be needed to achieve success. How did you prepare for this National Winter Sports Festival?

Lee Joon-seo: In Korea, winter is short, so the practice period for winter sports is only about four months at most, but I continued to train for better results. When it was hard to ski in Korea due to warmer weather, I trained through basic and wheeled skiing and participated in overseas training to prepare. I was in competitions up until three days before the year's National Winter Sports Games, so I focused more on physical recovery and mind control right before the National Games.

Jeon Je-kyun: The most important thing for me was to stay in good condition. Since I trained a lot before the race, I also put a lot of effort into recovering after training to avoid getting tired.

 

Do you have any fun or memorable anecdotes from the preparation or tournament?

Lee Joon-seo: Due to the nature of the sport of skiing, I mainly trained on my own, but group training was more enjoyable. When we all focused on exercising together, I was able to train hard and have fun while joking around with my teammates in between training sessions.

Jeon Je-kyun: Lee Jun-seo is both a member of the national team and a senior member of the school sports team. Although the training methods for the national team are quite different from those used by school sports teams, I tried to copy Lee Jun-seo. However, it was a bit challenging, and I recall Lee Jun-seo helping me during that time.

 

▲ Jeon Je-kyun (Left) and Lee Joon-seo (Right) are sharing their experience of cross-country. (Photo from DKH)

How did you overcome any difficulties you faced while preparing for the competition, such as slumps or injuries?

Lee Joon-seo: I didn’t have any slumps or injuries, but because I tend to suffer from anxiety, I must focus a lot on calming down before the race. However, my parents, who have come to cheer me on at every event for the past 14 years since elementary school, helped me relax a lot.

Jeon Je-kyun: I really enjoyed drinking and having fun with friends once I turned 20. I socialized more than I trained. Because I had less training, my confidence suffered greatly. I even withdrew from the first competition after I turned 20 because I caught the flu. This seriously reduced my confidence, and I overcame it through the comfort and encouragement of my seniors on the DKU sports team.

 

How do you relax and gain strength before participating?

Lee Joon-seo: Before competitions, I often feel nervous, earning me the nickname of a ‘glass-minded’ player among my teammates. One season, I faced a mental breakdown. Thankfully, my seniors and coaches provided invaluable support, and my confidence was rebuilt through rigorous training, allowing me to focus entirely on the competition.

Jeon Je-kyun: On the day of the cross-country race, I made sure I wake up early in the morning to prepare. My girlfriend called me after that, and it was so comforting to hear her cheering me up. I was feeling strong going into the race and had high expectations for my performance.

 

Before the competition, do you have a routine or a way to relax yourself?

Lee Joon-seo: I try to focus more on exercises such as running and stretching before a competition so that my body does not feel heavy the next day.

Jeon Je-kyun: First, I always eat breakfast. I drink a lot of water again to feel comfortable during training. Also, when wearing gear like skis or poles, I always put them on from the left first. I developed this habit since I am left-handed, but these days, I have become more conscious of this and started putting my gear on from the right first.

 

▲ Jeon Je-kyun (Left) and Lee Joon-seo (Right) are sharing their experience of cross-country. (Photo from DKH)

What do you believe sets the National Winter Sports Festival apart from other games?

Lee Joon-seo: The number of participants is nearly twice that of other competitions, so I think it is an attractive competition where you can measure yourself against more participants.

Jeon Je-kyun: This competition has a system where teams are formed in each region, and if someone wins a medal, the team is also given points. This is unique, and I think this system makes athletes and viewers happy and satisfied.

 

What goals and career paths are you planning for the future?

Lee Joon-seo: As a national athlete, I want to compete on the international stage by participating in next year's Asian Games and next year's Olympics, as well as to get better results at next year's Winter Sports Games.

Jeon Je-kyun: I am currently ranked first in the national team's standing army. My first goal is to be selected as a national team member. After being selected, I plan to continue to practice hard and participate in international competitions such as the Asian Games and the Olympics.

 

Do you have any words for Dankookians (Students of DKU) who dream of the same path or are about to participate in a big competition?

Lee Joon-seo: Now that the summer sports season is about to begin, I hope that these athletes achieve good results and stay healthy.

Jeon Je-kyun: As DKU is well-known for its sporting activities, I hope that future competitors will help build up the school's reputation by putting in extra effort during their regular training and exercise. 

 

▲ Jeon Je-kyun (Left) and Lee Joon-seo (Right) Cheering With Fist (Photo from the Dankook Herald)

   The 20 medals earned by the sports team demonstrate DKU’s leverage as a representative of Chungcheongnam-do. The DKH is proud of the team for displaying outstanding ability and putting their hard work into practice. These medals hold even greater significance as they are the result of the collective effort of all the athletes. Looking ahead, the DKH eagerly anticipates Dankookians continue to uphold our honor beyond the confines of DKU. Furthermore, the DKH advocates for greater attention to a wider range of sports and increased national support for passionate athletes.

이채현, 정영훈, 박지윤  dankookherald@gmail.com