Nothing beats the excitement of watching world-class athletes give their all at the Olympics. This summer, as the Paris Olympics heat up, we're spotlighting some phenomenal Asian athletes who are not only dominating their fields but also capturing hearts with their unique stories and personalities. Trust me, you'll want to become a fan!
🇰🇷 South Korea
Sanguk Oh (27), a fencing sensation, made history for South Korea by clinching the gold medal in the men's sabre individual event on July 28th. Just four days later, he stood atop the podium again with his teammates in the men's sabre team event, becoming the first Korean fencer to win two gold medals at a single Olympics. In South Korea, the fencing team has earned the nickname "Afengers" (a clever blend of "Avengers" and "fencing") due to their overwhelming popularity and success.
Speaking of dominance, South Korea is renowned for its archery prowess. The South Korean women’s archery team, consisting of Sihyeon Lim (21), Hunyoung Jeon (30), and Suhyeon Nam (19), achieved a staggering 10th consecutive Olympic gold medal. Since women's team archery debuted at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, South Korea has consistently secured the top spot. Similarly, the men's team claimed their third straight Olympic gold this year. Social media humorously remarks on Olympic Archery as a global gathering every four years where archers come together to "give the Koreans the gold medals" or "play for the silver against Korea."
🇯🇵 Japan
While Japan is widely recognized as a judo powerhouse, it’s also carving a name in skateboarding. Since the sport's official debut at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, skateboarding has surged in popularity across Japan, doubling the number of skate parks nationwide. On July 29th, teenage skateboarders Coco Yoshizawa (14) and Liz Akama (15) won gold and silver in the women’s street event. Notably, Yoshizawa competed without any major sponsors, representing a local board shop. Inspired by Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Momiji Nishiya's big spin board trick, which she had mastered two years earlier, Yoshizawa pursued her Olympic dream. She began skateboarding at the age of seven and honed her skills at a nearby park during her elementary school years. After her victory, Yoshizawa stated in an interview, “People in their teens can actually perform and achieve at such a high level in the Olympics, and I think that’s wonderful.”
In the men's street event, Yuto Horigome (25) defended his title with near-perfect scores. Building on his Tokyo Olympic success, Horigome collaborated with Nike to release a limited-edition sneaker. With two gold medals and one silver already secured, Japan is making waves in the skateboarding events at the Paris Olympics.
🇨🇳 China
Having narrowly missed the top spot to the U.S. in the Tokyo Olympics, China is off to a flying start in Paris, racking up medals in its strongholds of table tennis and diving. With three gold medals already secured in diving, China surpassed the U.S.'s historical tally of 48, boasting a total of 50. China's ambitious goal is to sweep all eight diving events at the Paris Olympics. Keep an eye on Zongyuan Wang (22), the reigning world champion in both the men's synchro 3m springboard and the men's individual springboard, as he strives for more gold.
In swimming, Zhanle Pan (19) shattered the world record in the men’s 100m freestyle with a time of 46.40 seconds, claiming gold. Remarkably, Pan finished over a second faster than Australia's Kyle Chalmers, who took silver. The last time there was a gap of over one second between first and second place in the men's 100m freestyle at the Olympics was 96 years ago, at the 1928 Amsterdam Games. It's an incredible feat, especially in an Olympic event known for its close finishes and world-class competitors. This victory marks the emergence of the first Asian male champion in the 100m freestyle event in 92 years, setting the swimming world abuzz. At just 19 years old, Pan’s journey seems to be just beginning, and the world eagerly anticipates what he will achieve next.
🇺🇸 United States
Among the standout Asian-American athletes on Team USA is Suni Lee (21). A descendant of the Hmong ethnic group from China, Lee gained fame by stepping up at the Tokyo Olympics to win the all-around gymnastics gold in Simone Biles's absence, maintaining the U.S.'s gymnastics prestige. She also played a pivotal role in the team event, delivering a stunning performance on the uneven bars to secure the silver medal for the U.S. Lee became an overnight hero, embodying resilience after being diagnosed with a rare kidney condition that caused abnormal swelling throughout her body post-Tokyo. Overcoming this challenge, Suni is now back, teaming up with Simone Biles to lead the U.S. women's team in reclaiming Olympic glory after eight years.
Another exciting addition to the Olympics is breaking, and Team USA is proud to feature two Asian-American women: Sunny Choi (35) and Logan Edra (21). Sunny Choi’s journey is particularly inspiring. A second-generation Korean immigrant, she graduated from Penn's Wharton School of Business and served as the director of global creative operations for skincare at Estée Lauder before fully dedicating herself to breaking in 2023. She qualified for the Olympics after winning the Pan American Games in Chile in November 2023. Keep an eye on her as she competes in the women’s breaking event on August 9th.
Asian Dating Tip - Olympic Watch Party Date
Looking for a unique date idea this summer? Host an Olympic watch party with your date! Enjoy the thrill of the games together and see which athletes you're both rooting for.
* Share your KRUSH love story with us, and we will support your date.
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