Kim Young-nam (27, Jeju-do), who has been a member of the national diving team for 12 years since 2012, revealed that he is “thinking about retirement” after winning his fifth career medal at the Asian Games.

Kim was paired with Lee Jae-kyung (24-Gwangju Metropolitan Sports Association) in the men’s synchro 10m platform final at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre pool in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, where they finished second with a combined score of 387.78 points from periods one to six.

It was a thrilling upset.

Kim Young-nam-Jae-kyung, who were in third place through the fifth period, scored 75.60 points in the final sixth period for their performance of “a performance of a difficulty level 3.6 in a pike position with both legs straightened and upper body bent, holding the legs with two arms” (5255B) to overtake Bertrand Anak Reiseth-Enrique Anak Harold (Malaysia).

The final score of the Malaysian group was 386.07 points, 1.71 points lower than that of Korea.

Having won silver in the men’s synchronised 10-metre platform diving with Woo Haram (25, Korea Sports Promotion Agency) at Incheon 2014 and Jakarta-Palembang 2018, Kim Young-nam teamed up with Lee Jae-kyung to win his third consecutive silver medal in the event.

Kim also won two medals (bronze in 2014 and silver in 2018) in the men’s synchronised 3m springboard.

“This could be my last year as a diver. I’m preparing to join the army,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if I would be able to compete at this Asian Games, but thankfully I got the chance. National Strength and Conditioning Coach Lee Ji-hong helped me a lot. I cried a lot when I saw her face after the silver medal was confirmed.”

Kim was first selected for the national team in 2012, when he was in his first year of high school.

Alongside diving sensation Woo Haram (25-Korea Sports Promotion Organisation), he has competed at four World Championships, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and three Asian Games.

Until recently, Kim Young-nam was the eldest member of the diving team.

His younger brothers Kim Young-taek (22-Jeju Provincial Office) and Kim Young-ho (19-Jeju Swimming Federation) also compete as divers.

Kim reached the final of the men’s 10-metre platform individual event at the Fukuoka World Championships in July to qualify early for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He will also compete for Korea at the Asian Games.

“I’m so grateful that he’s doing so well,” said Kim Young-nam. I feel really proud when someone says, ‘Your brother has already qualified for the Olympics,'” he laughed.

The other diving juniors are just as precious to him as his siblings.

“(Woo) Haram and the other athletes will also qualify for Paris soon. I hope Korean diving will gain confidence through the Asian Games and show off its good performance at the Paris Olympics.” “I believe in our diving juniors. They will do really well,” he said in a ‘de facto farewell’.

Kim Young-nam competed in just one event at the Games.

His silver medal in the men’s synchronised 10-metre platform is likely to be his last Asian Games medal.

“I’m very grateful to Jae Kyung-yi for being my partner in this competition,” said Kim, who looked at his silver medal with an emotional expression. Thanks to trainer Lee Ji-hong and Jae Kyung-yi, I won another medal,” he said, “I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.”

The younger members of the diving team, who don’t want to see Kim retire just yet, also seemed to sense the end.

When Kim confirmed his second place, his juniors, including Kim Soo-ji (Ulsan Metropolitan Government), rushed to congratulate him. 토토사이트