Kim Mi-Jung has a chance with Huh to give Korea another Olympic champion

In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Kim Mi-jung made history by clinching the first-ever gold medal in the women’s -72 kg judo category. Now, 32 years later, she is preparing for a remarkable full-circle moment as she leads the South Korean women's national judo team to the Paris Olympics, not as an athlete, but as their head coach.

Kim, 53, assumed the role of national team coach in 2021, marking her third Olympic involvement, having previously served as a referee at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Reflecting on her new role, Kim shared during a press conference at the Jincheon National Training Center, “Watching these athletes train and compete brings back memories of my own athletic days. Their journey has been tough, and I deeply appreciate their trust and dedication."

Despite her rich experience as an athlete, Kim acknowledges that coaching comes with its own set of challenges. “Honestly, being an athlete was easier than being a coach,” she admitted with a chuckle. “I often find myself rushing and getting ahead of my athletes. It’s been quite a challenge to keep myself in check.”

Since Kim’s groundbreaking victory in 1992, South Korea has only seen one other Olympic gold in women's judo, won by Cho Min-sun in the -66 kg division at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The country has not had another female judo champion at the Olympics since then. Although Kim dreams of breaking this dry spell in Paris, she is cautious about overburdening her athletes. “Having won a gold medal myself, I naturally want to see one of my athletes achieve the same. It’s possible, but there’s no certainty. I believe that pushing too hard can backfire, so I aim to create a comfortable environment where my athletes can perform at their best,” she explained.

This year she might have a chance for an Olympic gold medal for Korea with World Champion Mii Huh in the U57kg weight class. Huh made a spectacular debut by winning gold at the 2019 Grand Slam in Tbilisi. In June 2022, she clinched gold medals at the Grand Slams in Tbilisi and Abu Dhabi. She continued her success by winning the Grand Prix in Portugal in 2023 and earning a bronze at the Grand Slam in Ulaanbaatar that same year. Huh secured gold at the Summer World University Games in Chengdu and the Oceania Open in Perth in 2023. In 2024, she captured gold at the Grand Prix Portugal and silver at the Asian Championships in Hong Kong. In Abu Dhabi she gave the team the confidence to be meaningful at the Olympic Games.

One of the significant hurdles Kim has identified is the team’s collective lack of confidence. “When I first took over, I was concerned about the team’s mindset. However, after several international competitions, it became clear that my athletes could hold their own and be very competitive,” she observed. “Technical training is crucial, but building their confidence is even more important.”

Kim believes that a medal-winning performance by one athlete could have a ripple effect on the entire team. “Once one athlete wins a medal, it could open the floodgates for others,” she said. “Seeing a teammate succeed makes others think, ‘I’ve trained just as hard. If she can do it, I can too.’”

Japan, the birthplace of judo, remains dominant in the sport, with several European countries, including France, also having a strong track record. Recalling her own competition days against athletes from Japan, Britain, and Poland, Kim noted that South Korea’s approach has been consistent. “We may not have the technical finesse of Japanese athletes, so we must outlast them. We might not match the strength of European judokas, so we rely on our superior skills and techniques. We need to combine the best of both worlds,” she elaborated.

Kim’s commitment to her team is palpable as she navigates the intricacies of coaching at an elite level. With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, she remains dedicated to fostering a supportive and confidence-boosting environment, hoping her guidance will lead to Olympic success for her athletes.

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Kim Mi-Jung was the 1992 Olympic Champion in Barcelona, having also become World Champion in the same city the year before. In 1988, she won her first Olympic medal, losing the U73kg final to Ingrid Berghmans in Seoul. After her competitive career, she became an international referee, officiating an Olympic final in 2004. Kim won the Tournoi de Paris in 1992 and triumphed at the German Open World Masters in 1991 and 1992. Notably, she coached Mimi Huh to a world title in 2024.