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For the past few years, Korean badminton superstar An Se Young seemed destined to win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. When she fulfilled her dream at La Chapelle Stadium, no one was surprised. However, what followed after her victory sent shockwaves through the badminton world.
While most media interactions were celebratory, the 22-year-old took the opportunity to shine a light on serious issues regarding how Korean badminton is managed. She pointed out problems including long-term mismanagement of her knee injury, unilateral decision-making by the federation, and the fact that young players were asked to restring rackets and do laundry for older players.
What did An say after winning the gold?
“Overcoming the pain was very difficult,” An Se Young told the Badminton World Federation immediately after her victory. “It was a misdiagnosis, and we found out at the end of last year that the injury was very serious. But we didn’t have time for surgery, so we had to push through it. My coach helped me, and that’s how I made it here.”
An made a shocking statement, hinting at possible retirement, but that stance seems to have softened. On her now-private Instagram account, she clarified that she didn’t want people to misunderstand her retirement remarks. “I’m not trying to fight anyone. This is about protecting the players.”
In a follow-up post, she also apologized for distracting from other Olympic athletes’ achievements. “My comments washed away their moments of celebration and respect like a tsunami. I want to extend my sincerest apologies to those athletes,” she said.
What issues did she highlight?
Her biggest complaint was the national team’s negligence regarding her serious injury in 2023. She thanked her personal coach for ensuring that her dream of competing in Paris wasn’t derailed. An Se Young had pulled out of the India Open earlier this year, citing injury, despite initially entering the tournament.
She told Yonhap News Agency that she made these statements against the federation because she now had a platform where her voice could be heard. “My anger has always driven me to achieve my dreams,” An said. “I want my voice to be heard. In a way, that’s part of my dream.”
Reportedly, she raised complaints with the federation about her treatment. According to SBS Radio, An’s parents met with federation officials in February, asking for better living conditions for athletes at the national training camp. The Daily Economic News reported that An was upset about being required to perform chores after training, such as restringing broken racket strings for seniors, cleaning rooms, and doing laundry.
Although An Se Young did not mention these aspects in her recent comments, she stated, “What I ultimately want to express is the need for more flexibility in changing practices that are unreasonable but ingrained in tradition.”
What happened afterward?
Following the 2024 Paris Olympics, these comments dominated Korean headlines, prompting the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to launch an investigation into the operations of the Korean Badminton Association (BKA).
The issue was considered so serious that President Yoon Suk Yeol addressed the topic at a gathering of Korean Olympians (reportedly attended by An). According to the Korea Herald, “President Yoon Suk Yeol told the attendees that he would work to eliminate outdated practices and ensure that athletes from any sport have a fair chance to compete without restrictions, encouraging young athletes to train in more advanced environments.”
Midway through the investigation, it was revealed that the head of the Korea Taekwondo Association, Kim Jae Kyu, was suspected of misusing funds, though this accusation has since been dismissed. Reports indicated that he had engaged in improper financial dealings with an equipment sponsor.
