When the Olympics comes around, there’s bound to be a new sports star that arrives on everyone’s radar. For the 2024 Paris Olympics, one of these athletes may be none other than Korean sharpshooter Kim Ye Ji.
READ: Korean Sharpshooter Kim Ye Ji Goes Viral at the 2024 Paris Olympics
The Korean Olympian, who competes in the women’s pistol events, became the subject of awe from the internet masses after a clip of her during the 2024 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup made its rounds online. In the video, Ye Ji was fawned over for her effortlessly cool and nonchalant behavior, all while she broke the world record for her pistol category.
Several netizens commented that she had the aura of an action film protagonist, while others noted her “cyberpunk-esque” gear. They’re actually glasses that allow shooters to focus on the target, along with other helpful assists!
Curious about the Korean sharpshooter? Get to know more about Kim Ye Ji below.
Who Is Kim Ye Ji? What to Know About the Korean Sharpshooter at the 2024 Paris Olympics
1. Kim Ye Ji is 31 years old as of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Olympic sharpshooter was born on September 4, 1992 in Danyang, South Korea, making her 31 years old during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Currently, Ye Ji resides in Imsil, which is around 200 kilometers from the capital of Seoul.
2. Kim Ye Ji made her Olympic debut at the 2024 Games.
The 2024 Paris Olympics marks Ye Ji’s first official foray into the prestigious Games, where she competes in Shooting at Women’s 10-meter air pistol, 25-meter pistol, and 10-meter air pistol mixed team. It may have been her first time as an Olympian, but Ye Ji already proved her skill with a podium finish, earning a silver medal in the 10-meter air pistol.
3. Kim Ye Ji is a world record holder.
Ye Ji is a decorated shooter, as she holds records at World Cups held across Europe. She even holds a world record in the women’s 25-meter pistol at the 2024 ISSF World Cup held in Baku, Azerbaijan. And as the internet can agree, she sure looked cool achieving it!
4. Kim Ye Ji is a mom.
Proving that moms can be the toughest beings on the planet, Ye Ji is actually a proud mother to a five-year-old daughter. Even if she was miles away in Paris, the athlete made sure that she had a piece of her daughter during the vital moment, writer Trung Phan notes that Ye Ji had her daughter’s elephant doll hanging by her pocket during the Olympic games.
In a report by the Korean outlet Insight, her kid had already bragged about her mom going to the Olympics–now, the silver medal is another notch in the list of achievements!
5. Kim Ye Ji considers her fellow Olympian Oh Ye Jin as her “youngest sibling.”
There’s no bad blood between Ye Ji and fellow Korean sharpshooter Oh Ye Jin, who bagged the gold medal during her event. According to Ye Ji, the 19-year-old was like her “youngest sibling.” “She is like my youngest sibling, and I always want to care for her and always be there for her. So, when she won the gold medal, I was extra happy,” Ye Ji told the Associated Press.
“I do not view her as my rival. This is a big stage, the Olympics, and we won the gold and silver. When we won these medals, we were so proud we are Koreans. I thought it did not matter who won the gold.” The two are even roommates in the Olympic Village!
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