After making waves at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Korean Olympic sharpshooter Kim Ye Ji is stepping back from the sport. As reported by the Agence France-Presse, the 32-year-old athlete has decided to temporarily put down her gun, citing exhaustion from the intense competition schedule and the public attention that has followed her viral success.
READ: Viral Olympic Korean Sharpshooter Kim Ye Ji on Why She’s Taking a Break from the Sport
The athlete’s agency, Plfil, confirmed that Kim Ye Ji will not renew her contract with her team when it expires in December, as she takes time off to be with her young daughter. “Kim plans to take a break to recharge and prepare for a bigger leap forward," her agent Yang Yong Sik said in a report by Korea JoongAng Daily.
“The level of fatigue has mounted significantly... with tournaments and training, in addition to the public’s interest in her,” Yong Sik said as reported by AFP. The agent also mentioned that Ye Ji had been subjected to “mean-spirited” comments online and unsolicited requests for money from strangers.
Though she’s not retiring, Ye Ji’s absence from the sport for the time being comes as a welcome break from her non-stop commitments. Since the 2024 Paris Olympics, the athlete has been juggling multiple brand endorsements, including stints with Louis Vuitton and Givenchy, and even became a brand ambassador for Tesla. Kim is also set to appear in an acting role for the series Crush as part of the global film project Asia, but she previously remained clear that her heart is still with shooting.
“I am not like an influencer, I am a shooting sport athlete," Kim said in a separate interview with the International Shooting Sport Federation, emphasizing her dedication to the sport despite her new celebrity status. “I wish this love and interest is not just for me and this will go to the shooting sports.”
Ye Ji’s agent confirmed that while no exact date has been set for her return, she plans to resume her career once she’s had time to rest and reconnect with her family. “I hope this break will help me grow both as a mother and as an athlete,” she said in her statement.
Kim Ye Ji’s Rise to Internet Fame
Ye Ji’s rise to stardom was anything but ordinary. Known for her ice-cold composure during events like the women’s 10m air pistol event at the Paris Olympics, the silver medalist became an internet sensation after a video of her calmly shooting with one hand in her pocket made the rounds.
The clip, which was actually taken at the 2024 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup, quickly went viral, leading to fans applauding her “main character energy,” with even Elon Musk suggesting she should be cast in an action movie.
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