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Revision as of 14:37, 7 November 2023 editJBW (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators195,643 edits Reverting a change made with an edit summary which did not make sense in the context, and restoring what appears to be tge usual English spelling of a Korean place name.← Previous edit Revision as of 05:39, 6 December 2024 edit undoSer Amantio di Nicolao (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators6,255,518 editsm External links: add Category:20th-century South Korean sportsmenTag: AWBNext edit →
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{{Short description|South Korean,Japanese marathon runner}} {{Short description|Korean marathon runner (1912–2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}} {{Use American English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|]||lang=Korean}} {{family name hatnote|]||lang=Korean}}
{{Infobox sportsperson {{Infobox sportsperson
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| image_size = | image_size =
| headercolor = lightsteelblue | headercolor = lightsteelblue
| caption = Sohn Kee-chung (1936). | caption = Sohn in 1936
| native_name = 孫基禎 > 손기정 | native_name = 손기정
| native_name_lang = ko | native_name_lang = ko
| birth_name = | birth_name =
| fullname = | fullname =
| nickname = | nickname =
| nationality = {{JAP}}(1912~1945) > {{KOR}}(1945~2002)
| citizenship = | citizenship =
| residence = | residence =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1912|08|29}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1912|08|29}}
| birth_place = ], ], ] (current-day ], ]) | birth_place = ], ], ]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2002|11|15|1912|08|29}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2002|11|15|1912|08|29}}
| death_place = ], ] | death_place = ], ]
| resting_place = ]
| monuments = | monuments =
| education = | education =
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{{Medal|Gold| ] | ]}} {{Medal|Gold| ] | ]}}
| module = {{Infobox Korean name | module = {{Infobox Korean name
| hangul = {{linktext|손|기|정}} | hangul = 손기정
| hanja = {{linktext|孫|基|禎}} | hanja = {{linktext|孫|基|禎}}
| rr = Son Gijeong | rr = Son Gijeong
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}} }}


'''Sohn Kee-chung''' ({{lang-ko|손기정}}; {{IPA-ko|son.kidʑʌŋ}}; August 29, 1912<ref name=Lewis>{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Mike|title=Sohn Kee-chung: Korean athlete whose Olympic protest made him a national hero|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/nov/30/guardianobituaries|access-date=April 24, 2013|newspaper=]|date=November 29, 2002}}</ref><ref name=ARRS>{{cite web|url=https://www.arrs.run/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1935.htm |title=World Marathon Rankings for 1935 |publisher=Association of Road Racing Statisticians |date=September 20, 2009 |access-date=November 15, 2010}}</ref> – November 15, 2002) was an Olympic athlete and long-distance runner. He became the first ethnic Korean to win a medal at the ], winning gold in the ] at the ]. He was born in the Korean Peninsula, but he competed as a member of the ] because Korea was under Japanese occupation at the time.<ref name=sr>. www.sports-reference.com</ref> Sohn set an Olympic record of 2 hours 29 minutes 19.2 seconds.<ref name="longman"/> '''Sohn Kee-chung''' ({{langx|ko|손기정}}; {{IPA|ko|son.kidʑʌŋ}}; August 29, 1912<ref name=Lewis>{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Mike|title=Sohn Kee-chung: Korean athlete whose Olympic protest made him a national hero|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/nov/30/guardianobituaries|access-date=April 24, 2013|newspaper=]|date=November 29, 2002}}</ref><ref name=ARRS>{{cite web|url=https://www.arrs.run/MaraRank/ATM_Mara1935.htm |title=World Marathon Rankings for 1935 |publisher=Association of Road Racing Statisticians |date=September 20, 2009 |access-date=November 15, 2010}}</ref> – November 15, 2002) was a Korean-Japanese Olympic athlete and long-distance runner. He became the first Korean to win a medal at the ], winning gold in the ] at the ]. He was born in the Korean Peninsula, but he competed as a member of the ] because Korea was under ] at the time.<ref name="sr">{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2020 |title=Son Gi-Jeong Bio, Stats, and Results {{!}} Olympics at Sports-Reference.com |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/so/son-gi-jeong-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417084436/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/so/son-gi-jeong-1.html |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |access-date=June 8, 2024 }}</ref> Sohn set an Olympic record of 2 hours 29 minutes 19.2 seconds.<ref name="longman"/>


Sohn competed under the Japanese name '''{{transliteration|ja|Kitei Son}}''', as ] was under occupancy rule of the ] during his career.<ref name=sr/><ref name="longman">{{cite web|last=Longman|first=Jeré|title=Korean Olympic Hero Championed Liberty|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/sports/olympics/15korea.html|work=]|date=November 14, 2009|access-date=July 27, 2021}}</ref> Sohn competed under the Japanese name '''{{transliteration|ja|Kitei Son}}''', as ] during his career.<ref name=sr/><ref name="longman">{{cite web|last=Longman|first=Jeré|title=Korean Olympic Hero Championed Liberty|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/sports/olympics/15korea.html|work=]|date=November 14, 2009|access-date=July 27, 2021}}</ref>


==Early life== ==Early life==
Sohn Kee-chung was born in what is now ] (previously called Shingishū), ] ], ], which was occupied by ] at the time.{{Cn|date=October 2023}} He was born into the {{Ill|Miryang Son clan|ko|밀양 손씨}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=밀성손씨 - 디지털밀양문화대전 |url=http://www.grandculture.net/miryang/index/GC08700750?category=%EC%9D%B8%EB%AA%85&depth=2&name=%EC%82%AC&page=7&search=%EC%86%90%EA%B8%B0%EC%A0%95 |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=www.grandculture.net}}</ref> He studied at ] in Seoul and ] in Tokyo, where he graduated in 1940. Sohn Kee-chung was born on August 29, 1912, in ] (then "Shingishū"), ], ] (now in North Korea).<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last=정 |first=찬모 |title=손기정 (孫基禎) |encyclopedia=] |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0067205 |access-date=June 8, 2024 |publisher=] |language=ko}}</ref><ref name="Lewis" /><ref name="sr" /> He was born into the {{Ill|Miryang Son clan|ko|밀양 손씨}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=밀성손씨 - 디지털밀양문화대전 |url=http://www.grandculture.net/miryang/index/GC08700750?category=%EC%9D%B8%EB%AA%85&depth=2&name=%EC%82%AC&page=7&search=%EC%86%90%EA%B8%B0%EC%A0%95 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=]}}</ref>

Sohn reportedly had a talent for running even at a young age. In sixth grade, he placed first in a regional 5&nbsp;km race, beating out older competitors.<ref name=":0" /> He studied at ] in Seoul, which was reputed for its ] program.<ref name=":0" /> He then enrolled in ] in Tokyo, where he graduated in 1940.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}


==Athletics career== ==Athletics career==
In 1931, he ran as the representative of his province at the ] Competition ({{Korean|hangul=조선신궁대회|labels=no}}) in Seoul (]), and placed first. In 1932, he came in second in the Kyŏngyŏng Race ({{Korean|hangul=경영 마라톤대회|labels=no}}), which was hosted by newspaper '']''. In April 1932, he won the Tokyo-Yokohama '']'' (road race).<ref name=":0" />
Sohn first competed in the 1,500 and 5,000 m, but turned to longer distances after winning an eight-mile race in October 1933. Between 1933 and 1936, he ran 12 marathons; he finished in the top three on all occasions and won nine.<ref name=sr/> On November 3, 1935 in ], ], Sohn set a ] with a time of 2:26:42, which broke the world record 2:26:44 set by ] of Japan at the Berlin Olympic trials on April 3, 1935, in Tokyo, Japan.<ref name="IAAF">{{cite web|title=12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009. |url=http://www.iaaf.org/mm/document/competitions/competition/05/15/63/20090706014834_httppostedfile_p345-688_11303.pdf |publisher=IAAF Media & Public Relations Department |location=Monte Carlo |page=565 |date=2009 |access-date=July 29, 2009 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806172743/http://www.iaaf.org/mm/document/competitions/competition/05/15/63/20090706014834_httppostedfile_p345-688_11303.pdf |archive-date=August 6, 2009 }}</ref><ref>. Marathonguide.com. Retrieved on June 9, 2015.</ref> According to the ], the record remained unbroken until Sohn's own trainee, ], won the 1947 ].<ref name="IAAF" /><ref>However, Suh’s performance was set on a course considered to be short by some{{who|date=August 2017}} road racing authorities, which means Sohn's world record would have lasted until the early 1950s. (See the Association of Road Racing Statistician's web pages regarding the and .)</ref> Unofficially, he even ran a marathon with a time under 2:24 on April 27, 1935 in Seoul, South Korea.

Sohn first competed in the 1,500 and 5,000 m, but turned to longer distances after winning the Chōsen Shrine Competition in October 1933.<ref name=":0" /> Between 1933 and 1936, he ran 12 marathons; he finished in the top three on all occasions and won nine.<ref name=sr/> On November 3, 1935, in ], ], Sohn set a ] with a time of 2:26:42, which broke the world record 2:26:44 set by ] of Japan at the Berlin Olympic trials on April 3, 1935, in Tokyo, Japan.<ref name="IAAF">{{cite web|title=12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009. |url=http://www.iaaf.org/mm/document/competitions/competition/05/15/63/20090706014834_httppostedfile_p345-688_11303.pdf |publisher=IAAF Media & Public Relations Department |location=Monte Carlo |page=565 |date=2009 |access-date=July 29, 2009 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806172743/http://www.iaaf.org/mm/document/competitions/competition/05/15/63/20090706014834_httppostedfile_p345-688_11303.pdf |archive-date=August 6, 2009 }}</ref><ref>. Marathonguide.com. Retrieved on June 9, 2015.</ref> According to the ], the record remained unbroken until Sohn's own trainee, ], won the 1947 ].<ref name="IAAF" /><ref>However, Suh’s performance was set on a course considered to be short by some{{who|date=August 2017}} road racing authorities, which means Sohn's world record would have lasted until the early 1950s. (See the Association of Road Racing Statistician's web pages regarding the and .)</ref> Unofficially, he ran a marathon with a time under 2:24 on April 27, 1935, in Seoul, South Korea.


==1936 Berlin Olympics== ==1936 Berlin Olympics==
] ]
Sohn, competing for the ], won the ] at the ] in the ]. He ran the {{convert|42.195|km}} course in 2:29:19.2, breaking the ].<ref name="longman"/> His teammate ] took the ]. As ] at the time, the ] (IOC) officially credited Japan with Sohn's gold and Nam's bronze in the ]. Sohn, competing for the ], won the ] at the ] in the ]. He ran the {{convert|42.195|km}} course in 2:29:19.2, breaking the ].<ref name="longman"/> His teammate ] took the ]. As ] at the time, the ] (IOC) officially credited Japan with Sohn's gold and Nam's bronze in the ].


On December 9, 2011, the IOC recognized Sohn's Korean nationality in his official profile. It cited his efforts to sign his Korean name and his stress on Korea's status as a separate nation during interviews. The move was part of the Korean Olympic Committee's repeated requests to acknowledge Sohn's background. However, the IOC ruled out changing the nationality and registered name per official records to prevent historical distortions.<ref>. English.chosun.com (December 16, 2011). Retrieved on 2015-06-09.</ref> On December 9, 2011, the IOC recognized Sohn's Korean nationality in his official profile. It cited his efforts to sign his Korean name and his stress on Korea's status as a separate nation during interviews. The move was part of the Korean Olympic Committee's repeated requests to acknowledge Sohn's background. However, the IOC ruled out changing the nationality and registered name per official records to prevent historical distortions.<ref>. English.chosun.com (December 16, 2011). Retrieved on June 9, 2015.</ref>


===Political significance === ===Political significance ===
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=== Hellenic prize === === Hellenic prize ===
For winning the marathon, Sohn was to have received an ancient ] from the ], which was discovered at ], and later purchased by a newspaper in Athens to give as an Olympic award. However, the IOC believed that presenting such a valuable gift to a runner would violate its amateur rules. The helmet was placed in a ] and remained there for 50 years. It was finally presented to Sohn in 1986.<ref>{{cite news|author=James Markham|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/18/world/germans-look-back-gingerly-to-the-36-games.html|title=GERMANS LOOK BACK, GINGERLY, TO THE '36 GAMES|newspaper=]|date=August 18, 1986}}</ref><ref>. Reuters. August 10, 1986</ref> Sohn donated the helmet to the ], which designated it as the 904th and only Western ].<ref name="nmk904">{{Cite web |url=https://www.museum.go.kr/site/eng/relic/represent/view?relicId=4359 |title=Ancient Greek Bronze Helmet |website=National Museum of Korea |access-date=2020-04-28}}</ref> There was initially a plan to award replicas of this helmet to the winners of the 2006 Sohn Kee-chung marathon,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/sports/baseball/158635.html|title=손기정 평화마라톤 우승자에 '청동투구' 수여(Korean)|newspaper=The Hankyoreh|date=September 20, 2006}}</ref> but they eventually got only a chance to wear a replica.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://media.daum.net/society/nation/others/view.html?cateid=100011&newsid=20061111144710635&p=yonhap|title='손기정 평화마라톤' 임진각서 열려(Korean)|publisher=Media Daum/Yonhap News Agency|date=November 11, 2006}}</ref> For winning the marathon, Sohn was to have received an ancient ] from the 8th century BC, which was discovered at ], and later purchased by a newspaper in Athens to give as an Olympic award. However, the IOC believed that presenting such a valuable gift to a runner would violate its amateur rules. The helmet was placed in a ] and remained there for 50 years. It was finally presented to Sohn in 1986.<ref>{{cite news|author=James Markham|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/18/world/germans-look-back-gingerly-to-the-36-games.html|title=GERMANS LOOK BACK, GINGERLY, TO THE '36 GAMES|newspaper=]|date=August 18, 1986}}</ref><ref>. Reuters. August 10, 1986</ref> Sohn donated the helmet to the ], which designated it as the 904th and only Western ].<ref name="nmk904">{{Cite web |url=https://www.museum.go.kr/site/eng/relic/represent/view?relicId=4359 |title=Ancient Greek Bronze Helmet |website=] |access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref> There was initially a plan to award replicas of this helmet to the winners of the 2006 Sohn Kee-chung marathon,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/sports/baseball/158635.html|title=손기정 평화마라톤 우승자에 '청동투구' 수여(Korean)|newspaper=]|date=September 20, 2006}}</ref> but they eventually got only a chance to wear a replica.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://media.daum.net/society/nation/others/view.html?cateid=100011&newsid=20061111144710635&p=yonhap|title='손기정 평화마라톤' 임진각서 열려(Korean)|publisher=Media Daum/Yonhap News Agency|date=November 11, 2006}}</ref>


==Later life== ==Later life==
] that was awarded to Sohn Kee-chung, on display at the National Museum of Korea.]] ] that was awarded to Sohn Kee-chung, on display at the National Museum of Korea.]]
Sohn spent the remainder of his career in South Korea coaching other notable runners such as ], the winner of the ] in 1947;<ref name=sr/> ], winner of the ] in 1950; and ], who was the gold medalist of the ] marathon, and whom Sohn Kee-chung especially went to Barcelona to see. Sohn also became the Vice Chairman of the ]. At the ] in Seoul, he was given the honor of carrying the ] in the ] during the opening ceremony.<ref name=sr/><ref name="sohn" /> Sohn was the team manager for the Korea at the ] and ] and was the nation's flag bearer in the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/72608 |title=Son Gi-Jeong |website=olympedia.org |access-date=January 7, 2024}}</ref> Sohn spent the remainder of his career in South Korea coaching other notable runners such as ], the winner of the ] in 1947;<ref name=sr/> ], winner of the ] in 1950; and ], who was the gold medalist of the ] marathon, and whom Sohn Kee-chung especially went to Barcelona to see. Sohn also became the Vice Chairman of the ]. At the ] in Seoul, he was given the honor of carrying the ] in the ] during the opening ceremony.<ref name=sr/><ref name="sohn" />


Sohn authored an autobiography entitled ''My Motherland and Marathon'' ({{lang|ko-Hang|나의조국과 마라톤}}). Sohn authored an autobiography entitled ''My Motherland, My Marathon'' ({{lang|ko-Hang|나의 조국 나의 마라톤}}).<ref>{{Cite web |last=엄 |first=민용 |date=September 25, 2022 |title= 손기정 자서전 '나의 조국 나의 마라톤' 나왔다 |url=https://sports.khan.co.kr/bizlife/sk_index.html?art_id=202209251502003&sec_id=564101 |access-date=June 8, 2024 |website=sports.khan.co.kr |language=ko}}</ref>


He was honoured with the ]. He was honored with the ].


==Death and legacy== ==Death and legacy==
Sohn died at midnight on November 15, 2002, at age 90 from ]. He was buried at the ]. The Sohn Kee-chung Memorial Park in ] was established in his honor.<ref name="sohn">{{cite news|url=http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/include/print.asp?newsIdx=11954|title=Sohn Kee-chung|newspaper=Korea Times|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> He was also posthumously made a Grand Cordon (Blue Dragon) of the ]. Sohn died at midnight on November 15, 2002, at age 90 from ]. He was buried at the ]. The ] in ] was established in his honor.<ref name="sohn">{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/include/print.asp?newsIdx=11954|title=Sohn Kee-chung|newspaper=]|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> He was also posthumously made a Grand Cordon (Blue Dragon) of the ].


==In popular culture== ==In popular culture==
Sohn appears in ] author ]'s semi-autobiographical novel ''The End of August'' ({{lang|ja|8月の果て}}) about her grandfather, Yang Im-deuk, who was a rival of Sohn's when they were young.
The historical Korean drama '']'' referred to Sohn Kee-chung's Olympic win and to the arrest of the Korean journalists in its 21st episode.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hancinema.net/spoiler-bridal-mask-boxer-recalls-son-gi-jeong-46342.html |title= "Bridal Mask" boxer recalls Son Gi-jeong |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=August 15, 2012 |website=HanCinema |access-date=February 17, 2015}}</ref> In a parade scene, spectators wave Japanese flags to a Korean boxer parading through on a jeep. Despite the joyous occasion, the boxer's face remains staid and never smiles, and the Japanese flag is on his shirt. The boxer just won an international sports title, a first for a Korean. However, the Japanese occupation makes the boxer represent Japan, rather than Korea, and claims that victory.

As the parade continues, spectators suddenly unveil their Korean flags, which they got the night before, wave them, and shout for Korea. In solidarity with the crowd, the boxer then rips the Japanese flag from his shirt. With tearful eyes and a determined face, he raises his fists and repeatedly cheers with the crowd, "{{transliteration|ko|]!}}", a pro-Korean independence slogan.

The reporter Song takes a picture of the emotional scene. The picture appears in the newspaper's front page the next day, and government officials learn about the incident. The picture also angers Kimura, a high-ranking police officer. At the police station, he orders officers to arrest the boxer and to punish him harshly for disrespecting Japan. The police therefore arrest him and the journalists, and the government close the newspaper.

Sohn also appears in ] author ]'s semi-autobiographical novel ''The End of August'' ({{lang|ko-Hani|『8月の果て}}) about her grandfather, Yang Im-deuk, who was a rival of Sohn's when they were young.


===Actors who played Sohn Kee-chung=== ===Actors who played Sohn Kee-chung===
* Portrayed by Yoon Hee-won in the 2011 film '']''. * Portrayed by Yoon Hee-won in the 2011 film '']''.

* Portrayed by ] in the 2023 film '']''. * Portrayed by ] in the 2023 film '']''.


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Revision as of 05:39, 6 December 2024

Korean marathon runner (1912–2002)

In this Korean name, the family name is Sohn.
Sohn Kee-chung
Sohn in 1936
Personal information
Native name손기정
Born(1912-08-29)August 29, 1912
Shingishu, Heianhoku-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan
DiedNovember 15, 2002(2002-11-15) (aged 90)
Seoul, South Korea
Resting placeDaejeon National Cemetery
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight60 kg (132 lb)
Korean name
Hangul손기정
Hanja
Revised RomanizationSon Gijeong
McCune–ReischauerSon Kijŏng
Sport
SportAthletics
Now coachingHam Kee-Yong, Suh Yun-Bok
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1936 Berlin Marathon

Sohn Kee-chung (Korean: 손기정; Korean pronunciation: [son.kidʑʌŋ]; August 29, 1912 – November 15, 2002) was a Korean-Japanese Olympic athlete and long-distance runner. He became the first Korean to win a medal at the Olympic Games, winning gold in the marathon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He was born in the Korean Peninsula, but he competed as a member of the Japanese delegation because Korea was under Japanese rule at the time. Sohn set an Olympic record of 2 hours 29 minutes 19.2 seconds.

Sohn competed under the Japanese name Kitei Son, as Korea was under Japanese occupation during his career.

Early life

Sohn Kee-chung was born on August 29, 1912, in Sinuiju (then "Shingishū"), Heianhoku-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan (now in North Korea). He was born into the Miryang Son clan [ko].

Sohn reportedly had a talent for running even at a young age. In sixth grade, he placed first in a regional 5 km race, beating out older competitors. He studied at Yangchung High School in Seoul, which was reputed for its track and field program. He then enrolled in Meiji University in Tokyo, where he graduated in 1940.

Athletics career

In 1931, he ran as the representative of his province at the Chōsen Shrine Competition (조선신궁대회) in Seoul (Keijō), and placed first. In 1932, he came in second in the Kyŏngyŏng Race (경영 마라톤대회), which was hosted by newspaper The Dong-A Ilbo. In April 1932, he won the Tokyo-Yokohama ekiden (road race).

Sohn first competed in the 1,500 and 5,000 m, but turned to longer distances after winning the Chōsen Shrine Competition in October 1933. Between 1933 and 1936, he ran 12 marathons; he finished in the top three on all occasions and won nine. On November 3, 1935, in Tokyo, Japan, Sohn set a world record in the marathon with a time of 2:26:42, which broke the world record 2:26:44 set by Yasuo Ikenaka of Japan at the Berlin Olympic trials on April 3, 1935, in Tokyo, Japan. According to the International Association of Athletics Federations, the record remained unbroken until Sohn's own trainee, Suh Yun-Bok, won the 1947 Boston Marathon. Unofficially, he ran a marathon with a time under 2:24 on April 27, 1935, in Seoul, South Korea.

1936 Berlin Olympics

Sohn Kee-chung, 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics

Sohn, competing for the Empire of Japan, won the gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics in the marathon. He ran the 42.195 kilometres (26.219 mi) course in 2:29:19.2, breaking the Olympic record. His teammate Nam Sung-yong took the bronze medal. As Korea was under Japanese rule at the time, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially credited Japan with Sohn's gold and Nam's bronze in the 1936 Summer Olympics medal count.

On December 9, 2011, the IOC recognized Sohn's Korean nationality in his official profile. It cited his efforts to sign his Korean name and his stress on Korea's status as a separate nation during interviews. The move was part of the Korean Olympic Committee's repeated requests to acknowledge Sohn's background. However, the IOC ruled out changing the nationality and registered name per official records to prevent historical distortions.

Political significance

Under orders from Tokyo, Sohn Kee-chung had to compete using the Latin alphabet name of Son Kitei. It is the romanization of the Japanese pronunciation of his Korean name in hanja.

Sohn refused to acknowledge the Japanese anthem while it was played at his award ceremony and later told reporters that he was ashamed to run for Japan. When the Dong-a Ilbo published a photograph of Sohn at the medal ceremony, it altered the image to remove the Japanese flag from his running tunic. The act enraged the Japanese Governor-General of Korea Minami Jiro in Seoul. The Kempetai military police imprisoned eight people connected with the newspaper and suspended its publication for nine months.

Hellenic prize

For winning the marathon, Sohn was to have received an ancient Corinthian helmet from the 8th century BC, which was discovered at Olympia, Greece, and later purchased by a newspaper in Athens to give as an Olympic award. However, the IOC believed that presenting such a valuable gift to a runner would violate its amateur rules. The helmet was placed in a Berlin museum and remained there for 50 years. It was finally presented to Sohn in 1986. Sohn donated the helmet to the National Museum of Korea, which designated it as the 904th and only Western National Treasure. There was initially a plan to award replicas of this helmet to the winners of the 2006 Sohn Kee-chung marathon, but they eventually got only a chance to wear a replica.

Later life

The Corinthian helmet that was awarded to Sohn Kee-chung, on display at the National Museum of Korea.

Sohn was the team manager for the Korea at the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics and was the nation's flag bearer in the London 1948 opening ceremony. Sohn spent the remainder of his career in South Korea coaching other notable runners such as Suh Yun-Bok, the winner of the Boston Marathon in 1947; Ham Kee-Yong, winner of the Boston Marathon in 1950; and Hwang Young-Cho, who was the gold medalist of the 1992 Summer Olympics marathon, and whom Sohn Kee-chung especially went to Barcelona to see. Sohn also became the Vice Chairman of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, he was given the honor of carrying the Olympic torch in the stadium during the opening ceremony.

Sohn authored an autobiography entitled My Motherland, My Marathon (나의 조국 나의 마라톤).

He was honored with the Moran Class of the Korean Order of Civil Merit.

Death and legacy

Sohn died at midnight on November 15, 2002, at age 90 from pneumonia. He was buried at the Daejeon National Cemetery. The Sohn Kee-chung Park in Seoul was established in his honor. He was also posthumously made a Grand Cordon (Blue Dragon) of the Order of Sport Merit.

In popular culture

Sohn appears in Zainichi author Yu Miri's semi-autobiographical novel The End of August (8月の果て) about her grandfather, Yang Im-deuk, who was a rival of Sohn's when they were young.

Actors who played Sohn Kee-chung

References

  1. ^ Lewis, Mike (November 29, 2002). "Sohn Kee-chung: Korean athlete whose Olympic protest made him a national hero". The Guardian. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  2. "World Marathon Rankings for 1935". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. September 20, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  3. ^ "Son Gi-Jeong Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". April 17, 2020. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Longman, Jeré (November 14, 2009). "Korean Olympic Hero Championed Liberty". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  5. ^ 정, 찬모, "손기정 (孫基禎)", Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean), Academy of Korean Studies, retrieved June 8, 2024
  6. "밀성손씨 - 디지털밀양문화대전". Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  7. ^ "12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009" (PDF). Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. p. 565. Archived from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. Men's World Record Times – 1932 to 1938. Marathonguide.com. Retrieved on June 9, 2015.
  9. However, Suh’s performance was set on a course considered to be short by some road racing authorities, which means Sohn's world record would have lasted until the early 1950s. (See the Association of Road Racing Statistician's web pages regarding the Boston Marathon and World Best Progressions.)
  10. The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea – Late Recognition for Korean Olympic Athlete Sohn Kee-chung. English.chosun.com (December 16, 2011). Retrieved on June 9, 2015.
  11. Sohn Kee-chung. beijing2008.cn
  12. Bull, Andy (August 27, 2011). "The forgotten story of Sohn Kee-chung, Korea's Olympic hero". The Guardian.
  13. Athletics at the 1936 Berlin Summer Games: Men's Marathon. sports-reference.com
  14. James Markham (August 18, 1986). "GERMANS LOOK BACK, GINGERLY, TO THE '36 GAMES". New York Times.
  15. Marathon Winner in '36 Berlin Games Will Be Given Prize—50 Years Late. Reuters. August 10, 1986
  16. "Ancient Greek Bronze Helmet". National Museum of Korea. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  17. "손기정 평화마라톤 우승자에 '청동투구' 수여(Korean)". The Hankyoreh. September 20, 2006.
  18. "'손기정 평화마라톤' 임진각서 열려(Korean)". Media Daum/Yonhap News Agency. November 11, 2006.
  19. "Son Gi-Jeong". olympedia.org. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  20. ^ "Sohn Kee-chung". The Korea Times. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  21. 엄, 민용 (September 25, 2022). "[화제의 책] 손기정 자서전 '나의 조국 나의 마라톤' 나왔다". sports.khan.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved June 8, 2024.

External links

Records
Preceded byJapan Yasuo Ikenaka Men's Marathon World Record Holder
November 3, 1935 – April 19, 1947
Succeeded bySouth Korea Suh Yun-Bok
Olympic Games
Preceded byRafer Johnson Final Summer Olympic Torchbearer
1988 Seoul
With: Chung Sun-Man & Kim Won-tak
Succeeded byAntonio Rebollo
Olympic champions in men's marathon
World best yearly performance in men's marathon
Japan Championships in Athletics men's marathon champions
Korean Sports Hall of Fame
Olympic sports
Non-Olympic sports
Administration
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