From Judo Hopeful to Coaching Giant: 석정수’s Quest for Olympic Gold
석정수, a former youth judo standout who once brushed against national team glory, now leads one of South KoreaS largest judo teams, Pohang City Hall. After an early retirement from competition, the 42-year-old coach has set his sights on nurturing Olympic medalists, especially after recruiting rising star 이준환.
Early Promise and Stiff Competition
석정수 discovered judo in the fifth grade in Gyeongbuk, Kimcheon, at the urging of his father. His talent took him to Kimcheon Central Middle School,where he met Kim Jae-bum,the future 2012 London Olympics gold medalist. 석정수 quickly made a name for himself, reaching the finals of a national tournament in his second year at Pohang Dongji High School and winning the championship the following year. these achievements earned him a spot on the national youth team and admission to Korea National Sport University.
However, his path to the top was blocked by the remarkable depth of talent in the 73kg division. He faced rivals such as Lee Won-hee (2004 Athens gold medalist), Kim Jae-bum, and Wang Ki-chun (2008 Beijing silver medalist). “I really wanted to surpass them at the time, but there was an insurmountable wall,” said 석정수. ”I had to except that I couldn’t overcome them because those athletes won medals at the Olympics and made the nation happy.”
From Athlete to Leader: A New Chapter Begins
석정수 retired from his career as a professional athlete for the Suwon City Hall and pohang City Hall teams in 2009 at the age of 26 and became a coach. He gained recognition as a young leader at Pohang Dongji High School. Which eventually led him to become the coach of the Pohang City hall judo team in 2019 at the age of 37.Considering it is difficult to be appointed as a professional judo team coach even in their 40s, his appointment in his mid-30s was possible because the name ‘석정수’ was firmly engraved in judo in Gyeongbuk and Pohang.
“I thought the best leader was someone who made the athletes feel comfortable. So, when I became a leader, I always tried my best to change the team atmosphere. The policy was to allow freedom, but to ensure thorough training within that. In fact, because I became a leader at a young age, there where many times when there was less than 10 years difference between me and the athletes, so it was also a customized leadership method.”
Building a Judo Powerhouse: The Pohang City Hall Team
Under 석정수’s leadership, the Pohang City Hall judo team has grown to 14 athletes, becoming one of the largest in the country. The recent acquisition of Lee Jun-hwan,a national team standout and 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medalist in the 81kg division,has further fueled the team’s ambition. “Lee Jun-hwan’s recruitment was the biggest as I took office,” 석정수 stated. “After a long time of effort, Lee Jun-hwan recognized my heart and the recruitment was prosperous. With Lee Jun-hwan’s arrival,my desire to achieve the Olympic medal dream that I could not achieve as a player has grown even bigger as a coach.”
석정수: A Leader Forging a New Path
despite not reaching the pinnacle of success as an athlete, 석정수 is determined to excel as a coach. “I may not have been the best athlete, but I don’t think that’s the case for leaders either,” he said. “Rather, I understand the minds of lagging athletes, so I know that I have to constantly study and research to encourage them, improve the team atmosphere, and become a leader who is not ashamed of good athletes.”
“Pohang Mayor Lee Kang-deok knows my passion very well and gives me courage every time I see him. Thanks to the generous support, the athletes and I are sweating while dreaming of becoming the best in Korea and the world, beyond Pohang and Gyeongbuk. As a good leader,I will show the world the judo of the Pohang City Hall judo team with good players.”
What specific strategies does 석정수 employ to create a supportive and prosperous training environment for his athletes at the Pohang City Hall team?
From Judo Hopeful to Coaching Giant: 석정수’s Quest for Olympic Gold – Q&A
Dive deeper into the inspiring journey of 석정수 and the Pohang City Hall judo team. Here’s a breakdown of the key details and engaging facts:
Q&A Section
Who is 석정수 (Seok Jeong-soo)?
석정수 is a former promising judo athlete from South Korea who transitioned to coaching. He now leads the Pohang City Hall judo team, one of the largest in the country, with the goal of developing Olympic medalists.
What where 석정수’s accomplishments as an athlete?
he excelled in youth judo, reaching national tournament finals and winning a championship.He was on the national youth team and attended Korea national Sport University. However, he faced stiff competition from Olympic medalists in his weight class.
Who were his main rivals?
He competed against legendary judokas like Lee Won-hee (2004 Athens gold medalist), Kim Jae-bum (2012 London Olympics gold medalist), and Wang Ki-chun (2008 Beijing silver medalist), all in the 73kg division.
When did he retire from competitive judo and why?
석정수 retired in 2009 at the age of 26, after a career with Suwon City Hall and Pohang City Hall teams.He acknowledged he couldn’t surpass his strong competitors.
How did he become a coach?
After retiring, he initially coached at Pohang Dongji High School. His success there led to his appointment as the coach of the Pohang City hall team in 2019 at the age of 37. He was recognized in his region and city for his leadership and judo experience.
What is 석정수’s coaching ideology?
He focuses on creating a comfortable team environment that still allows thorough training. His leadership style is personalized since he is comparatively close in age to his athletes and understands the importance of constantly studying and researching to motivate athletes and improve the team’s atmosphere.
Who is Lee Jun-hwan?
Lee Jun-hwan is a rising judo star. He’s a national team standout and a 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medalist in the 81kg division, whose recruitment to the Pohang City Hall team was a important achievement for 석정수.
What are 석정수’s goals as a coach?
He aims to nurture Olympic medalists, fulfilling his own unachieved dream. with Lee jun-hwan on board,his desire has increased. He also wants to led the Pohang City Hall team to become the best in Korea and the world.
What does he think of not being a top athlete himself?
He believes his experience not reaching the top as an athlete helps him understand and support athletes who may be struggling. He believes that he can become a better leader by understanding those athletes.
What is the importance of the Pohang City Hall team?
the team has grown to 14 athletes which is one of the largest in South Korea. due to the team’s support by the pohang mayor, the team is aiming at becoming the best in the world.
석정수’s story is a testament to the dedication and passion that can drive a judo coach to achieve greatness. Follow their journey as they strive for Olympic glory!
