[Asian Games] Roller Choi Gwang-ho, Who Battled Illness for Over 10 Years, Wins the Golden Race after his Third Attempt
Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis after completing Guangzhou AG... After worrying about retirement due to indigestion and stomachaches and marrying fellow player Lee Hae-won last year, he gritted his teeth and took on the challenge... Gold medal by 0.002 seconds
Roller skater Choi Kwang-ho (30, Daegu City Hall) was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis shortly after the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, in which he won a silver medal. 스포츠토토
Even before the feelings of joy and joy disappeared, an unknown stomach pain tormented Choi Gwang-ho.
The pain, which seemed like it would go away quickly, continued, and he was unable to eat properly.
The results of the hospital's detailed examination were shocking.
Kwang-ho Choi, who met at the Qiantang Roller Sports Center in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China on the 1st, said, "At that time, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.
They said it was a disease that could not be completely cured. After that, I fought the disease for over 10 years."
For a roller skater who cares about her body, being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis was like a death sentence.
Because of the doping problem, I couldn't take any medicine or digest food properly.
Choi Gwang-ho said, “The phenomenon of my condition suddenly dropping was repeated,” and “When my body got worse, it was difficult not only to train but also to go about my daily life.”
What made it more difficult for Choi Kwang-ho was the issue of the existence of roller skating.
Roller skating was not adopted as an official sport at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
He said, “I was depressed because I lost the opportunity to participate in international all-around competitions where I could win a medal.
It was a time when I wondered if I should find another way.”
Fortunately, roller skating was re-adopted as an official event at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, but was drastically reduced to two 20,000m road events for men and women.
Choi Gwang-ho ran and ran toward an uncertain future while fighting the disease.
He then finished second in the men's 20,000m.
The details of roller skating events changed again at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, and Kwang-ho Choi worked hard again by changing his main event from the 20,000m long distance to the sprint 1,000m short distance.
It was not an easy challenge for Choi Kwang-ho, who had been training mainly for endurance.
Choi Kwang-ho said, "It is unknown whether roller skating will be adopted as an official event at the (Aichi/Nagoya) Asian Games to be held in 2026, so I thought this competition would be my last chance to challenge for the Asian Games gold medal."
He added, "I have been a member of the national team for the past four months. “I trained intensively with the determination that this was my retirement stage,” he said.
He continued, “Fortunately, my condition never deteriorated drastically during the training period,” adding, “I think I was lucky.”
When asked, "Who was the person who gave me the most strength during the challenge?" he answered, "My wife."
"My wife wasn't selected for the national team, but she supported me more earnestly than anyone else.
Without my wife, I wouldn't have been able to continue the challenge." did.
Choi Gwang-ho's wife is current roller skater Lee Hae-won, and the two got married in December last year.
Choi Kwang-ho, who poured out his sweat amidst illness and a bleak future, recorded a time of 1 minute 29.497 seconds in the men's 1,000m final at the Hangzhou Asian Games held at the Qiantang Roller Sports Center on the 1st, beating teammate Jeong Cheol-won (27, Andong City Hall, 1 minute 29.499 seconds).
By just 0.002 seconds and won the gold medal.
Choi Gwang-ho, whom we met at the joint reporting area, was asked, ‘Do you have something to say to your wife?’ and smiled shyly, saying, “I think I came this far thanks to you. Thank you.”
Ahead of his first wedding anniversary, he gave his wife the most brilliant gift.
