Korean men’s doubles Worlds champion who had once sulked to his triple Olympic medallist parent – ‘I want a normal (non famous) mom!’

Naturally, Won-ho grew up, at each step, alternately wanting to grow up to emulate her but feeling intense pressure of the comparisons. Last year, when he won silver in mixed doubles at Paris Games (incidentally denying Seo Seung-jae a medal, defeating him in mixed semis), he still felt like he wasn’t up to the mark of his famous mom who had gold.

While Paris Worlds were a massive redemption for Seo Seung-jae after two medal-less Olympics, Won-ho was battling pressures og his own before the duo downed Chinese Chen-Liu in the Sunday finals, to win gold.

Won-ho and Gil are the first mother and son Olympic medalists to make a name in Korean sports history. In August, he matched her other feat of brcoming World No 1. Speaking to Maeil Business Newspaper at the Samsung Training Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, prior to the Worlds, Coach Gil had said, “Thanks to Won-ho, my memory of being No. 1 in the world in the past has been revived. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he reminded me that I was a medalist, and I’m proud of Won-ho, who continues to perform well.”

Won-ho had decided to become a shuttler in the second grade of elementary school, but admitted to feeling the pressure, once it hit him how big an achiever she was. He told Maeil Busiess (mk), “In my childhood, I didn’t know my mother’s achievements were so great. Over time, I learned that my mother was a player who was in the spotlight around the world.” He was determined straightaway to not be known just as her son and carveanidentityof his own. “At this time, I thought that the only way to be called Kim Won-ho, not Gil Young-ah’s son, was to prove it with results. The results of hard work have been coming out little by little since last year. I will continue to have good results and become a son who will not be just a part of my mother’s reputation,” he was quoted as saying by Maeil Business.

Coach Gil, had faced a tough time, when an early rebel, stomped up to her and announced he felt sufficated by her fame. “One day when Won-ho was in elementary school, he said, ‘I want my mother to be normal.’ I thought I had to raise my son strongly, so I asked him to let me live as Kim Won-ho’s mother. Fortunately, Won-ho overcame it bravely, and I hae been so grateful (that he’s stepped out of my shasow) and for being called Kim Won-ho’s mom since last year.”

The Koreans had been in crackling form, winning three of the four World Badminton Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 1000 Series tournaments, from the Jeon Young Open (All England), the Malaysian Open and the Indonesian Open. They missed in China though.

Kim Won-ho had said, “We are doing well enough to win a lot this year and rank No. 1 in the men’s doubles world, but we still have a long way to go. The title that I want the most for the rest of the season is winning the World Championship.” The duo have also spoken of targeting God at the Aichi and Nagoya Asian Games next year and eventually the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics.

The silverat Paris Olympics had sonewhatsettled his nerves lastyear. “After winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics last year, I felt really good to see my mother happy. I’m trying my best to help my mother relive her feelings once again of when she won a gold, through me, her son. My mother said that the missing the gold medal was fated, but I will prepare well to win against anyone in future,” he said, after finishing second with Jeong Na-eun.

Kim Won-ho told MaeilBusiness earlier about constamtly feeling like he was not good enough to be known as her son. “In the past, I thought I didn’t inherit my mother’s DNA, but now I don’t think that. When I look at the net play during the game, I can’t help but think of the word mother and son. I sincerely thank my mother for always thinking of me first and passing down her special abilities.”

Coach Gil meanwhile wasn’t unaware of this pressure he lived under. Coach Gil said, “As a senior who has experienced No. 1 in the world, what I want to tell you is that you must not lose your initial motivation. As he is such a sincere player, I believe he will do well on his own. It is important to make up for the shortcomings by thinking that he is standing at a new starting point, not the end. If you try to keep the best place in the world, you will be able to achieve all your goals as a badminton player,” she said.

Kim Won-ho, has maintained he might not be able to surpass his mother in his Olympic career, is instead aiming at a grand slam – medals at Olympics, the World Championships, the Asian Games, and the Asian Championships.

Kim Won-ho said, “Badminton rackets, which were toys when I was young, are now my whole life. Since I became a badminton player, I want to achieve a Grand Slam. If you keep trying, I believe that someday your dream will become a reality,” he said.

Gil told Maeil Business, “Wonho, who turned 26 this year, can do better in the future. I think he can set a lot more records than I did when I retired at 27. The limit is what’s set by oneself. I hope Won-ho has confidence in himself and enjoys his career as a player.”

While legendary Park joo bong is now Korea head coach, Gil does her bit at Chaebol Samsung team. The head coach had earlier told Korean Herald, “As the male doubles players’ skills are rising day by day, we decided that we would not be able to produce good results in the same pattern, so we worked on constantly changing the speed. The things we prepared ahead of this tournament have come to a valuable fruition of winning the championship. On top of that, trusting each other and playing the net with confidence also helped them greatly to reach the top.”

Their fast attack and defense had helped them overcome the tall Chinese, and helped raise Taegeuki (National flag) at Paris, the same year after they became the first Koreans in 13 years to claim All England in men’s doubles.

Seo had earlier thanked fans for sticking by him even during losses after his exit from Olympics. “I’m Seo Seung-jae a national badminton player
My second Paris Olympics came to an end today. Thanks to everyone for supporting me day and night. I’m sorry I could not meet your expectations.
Last 3years we gave persevere through tough times, difficult situations. Although the desired goal was not achieved, I am relieved I left without regrets.” He thanked partners, diretors, coaches, trainers, analysts and family and added,

“Even in unexpected places and times, I found that you support me for nothing. So even when I feel tired, and its hard to continue and i feel like giving up on the game, I could shoulder the responsibility till the end. From now on ill be a player who never stops challenging,” he had vowed.

Seo had won gold in Denmark in 2023 with a different partner, Kang Min-hyuk (who went into army), but reunited with Kim at the start of this season, having previously played with him from 2017 to 2018. Seo and Kim had once been rivals in the mixed doubles. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kim and his partner Jeong Na-eun defeated Seo and Chae Yu-jung en route to winning silver.

At Paris, after trailing 5-9 and 13-17 to Chinese, Seo-Kim smacked eight straight points to take the first set. They also won the first eight points of second set against Chinese Chen – Liu and romped home in 40 minutes.

Seo had told Yoo jee ho of Yohnap New Agency that he was now confining himself to just one event this year, and he would try to put his body and mind in the best condition possible. “I won’t dwell on the past and I will only worry about what I can do better going forward.”

Choi Sol-kyu and Seo Seung-jae had failed to qualify for the quarterfinals in the men’s doubles badminton event at their first Olympics in Tokyo, with Seo unable to get on the podium at Paris.

But Papa Dori, and Son Kim of the legend Gil finally had their moment at Paris Worlds winning gold.