“I wanted to dedicate the gold medal to my late grandmother, so it’s very disappointing. But I’m still happy because I followed her last wish and competed in the Olympics wearing the Taeguk mark, and I even won a medal.”
Huh Mi Mi, age 22, of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Sports Council, expressed her mixed emotions with a smile after winning the silver medal under controversial circumstances. She narrowly lost to Canada’s Christa Deguchi in the final of the women’s 57kg judo event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, securing the first judo medal for South Korea at these Games.
After the match, Huh Mi Mi said, “I’m very disappointed and not entirely happy. Although it wasn’t the gold medal I’ve aimed for since childhood, I’m proud and happy to have won a medal while representing Korea at the Olympics. I want to praise myself for doing well.”
She added, “Deciding to change my nationality to Korean was a good decision. I’m proud and happy to have competed on the Olympic stage wearing the Taeguk mark. I want to show this silver medal to my father, who opened the path for me as a judo athlete.”
Despite the significant achievement, there was controversy over the referee’s decision. During the golden score period, Huh Mi Mi received a third penalty for a supposed false attack, leading to her loss. Women’s judo team coach Kim Mi Jung expressed regret over the decision, noting, “The French referee seemed to think Mi Mi’s move was a fake attack because it was small and involved sitting down. While judgments can vary, Mi Mi did not make a trick attack.“
Huh Mi Mi responded, “I’m not sure if that attack was a trick attack, but it’s part of the game, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ll be more mindful of such things in future matches.”
She also memorized the national anthem’s lyrics, hoping to sing it from the top of the podium. She shared, “I couldn’t do it in Paris, but in the next Olympics, I’ll win a gold medal and sing the national anthem on the podium. In four years, I’ll be older and stronger, so I believe I can do it.“
Huh Mi Mi’s favorite celebrity is BTS’s V. She said with a shy smile, “I’ve always wanted to meet V, but I wonder if I can meet him as a silver medalist instead of a gold medalist.”
Huh Mi Mi is not only a judo athlete but also a senior at Waseda University. Despite her busy schedule, she is confident she can complete the remaining credits needed for graduation. Her father is Korean and her mother is Japanese. Huh Mi Mi held dual citizenship in both South Korea and Japan. However, to honor her late grandmother’s wish for her to compete for Korea, Huh Mi Mi decided to give up her Japanese citizenship in 2021. This decision made her eligible to represent South Korea in the Olympics.
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