The article reads that Jo Jung-du won the men’s 10m air pistol shooting final at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in France on the 30th, securing first place. He scored 237.4 points, beating India’s Manish Narwal by a 2.5-point difference. This marked Jo Jung-du’s first gold medal at the event and his second medal following the silver medal won by Lee Yoon-ri in the women’s 10m air rifle competition.
Jo Jung-du, a 37-year-old BDH Paras athlete, was diagnosed with transverse myelitis while serving in the military in 2007. Due to inadequate treatment, he became disabled with spinal cord issues. Feeling hopeless, he spent 7-8 years confined to his home. Eventually, he gathered the courage to step out and pick up a real gun after spending time playing online shooting games as a national merit recipient.
Starting shooting out of curiosity, Jo Jung-du found it enjoyable and his life changed after becoming an athlete. His introverted personality transformed into a more outgoing one by meeting people, participating in economic activities, and winning medals at competitions. At his first Paralympics appearance, he confidently clinched the gold medal.
Jo Jung-du mentioned that training with the able-bodied national shooting team ahead of the competition was very helpful. Despite the significant score gap with able-bodied athletes, he felt that he could compete, boosting his confidence. He highlighted the support he received from the team as a source of strength.
Having married in February of last year, Jo Jung-du is expecting his first child in September. He expressed his desire to give his wife the gold medal and promised to give the baby a 20-don gold medal presented by the team leader. He also revealed that his son’s nickname would be ‘Yongddi,’ which he finds adorable.
Prior to the competition, Jo Jung-du, who usually skips meals due to digestive issues, was eager to eat instant noodles after the event. He emphasized the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and meeting people to find a way forward for those with acquired disabilities. Under the belief of “always doing it,” he achieved a “happy ending” as a national representative shooter.
Reported by Kim Yang-hee in Paris, email [email protected].