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The South Korean bobsleigh tandem said Wednesday despite being No. 1 in the world, they still have things to improve upon if they want to win a medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.
At the 21st Coca-Cola Sports Awards, Won Yun-jong and Seo Young-woo were named MVPs for their superb performance last season when they ended as the world's top-ranked two-man bobsleigh team. But the achievement still didn't satisfy the duo.
"We know we are No. 1 in world ranking, but we still need to improve our skills in starting and driving," Won said after the awards ceremony. "If we can improve our shortcomings in the next two years, we will able to stand on the podium at the PyeongChang Games."
Pilot Won and brakeman Seo ended the 2015-2016 International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation season with two gold and three silver medals at eight IBSF World Cup races. Though they finished seventh at the world championships, they were still able to end the season as the top-ranked tandem thanks to their second World Cup victory of the season last month in Germany.
The two athletes were surprised that they took the grand prize of the Coca-Cola Sports Awards, an award that honors amateur athletes since 1995. Previous MVP winners include former Olympic champion figure skater Kim Yu-na and Olympic gold medalist marathoner Hwang Young-cho.
"It's like a dream," Won said. "I think this award is not only for us, but to all people related to the South Korean bobsleigh team."
But before they celebrated the top honor, Won and Seo were in tears at the awards ceremony after their coach Malcolm Lloyd, who passed away in January at the age of 68, was named the top coach of the year. Receiving the award on behalf of the Welshman, they read a letter that they wrote to the pay tribute to the late coach.
"He was like a father to us," the 30-year-old Won said. "When we were disappointed in ourselves, he cheered us up and forged us into a better team."
For the upcoming Winter Games, Won and Seo were determined to win a medal for Lloyd and for South Korea. Seo, 24, said their partnership is reaching its prime.
"After playing six years together, we now know each other's thoughts by just looking at each other," Seo said. "Won leads me very well and helps me focus when I'm mentally exhausted."
The bobsleigh tandem said that they haven't yet gotten to race tracks at the Alpensia Sliding Centre in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, but just by looking at it, they think it will not be an easy course. Nevertheless, Won and Seo are satisfied with their bobsleigh manufactured from their home country.
"Of course at the PyeongChang Games, we will be racing with a locally made sleigh," Won said. "It's a really big achievement that local developers made a sleigh in two years and were able to match the expertise of overseas manufacturers who have made sleighs for about 100 years."
Won and Seo said that they were thankful that people are now paying much more attention to bobsleighing than in the past, and they will answer back by winning a medal at the PyeongChang Games.
"I don't think any Olympic athlete goes to the Games knowing they will win medals," Won said. "We will be preparing hard for the next two years and will try to become athletes who will come the closest to winning a gold medal." (Yonhap)
At the 21st Coca-Cola Sports Awards, Won Yun-jong and Seo Young-woo were named MVPs for their superb performance last season when they ended as the world's top-ranked two-man bobsleigh team. But the achievement still didn't satisfy the duo.
"We know we are No. 1 in world ranking, but we still need to improve our skills in starting and driving," Won said after the awards ceremony. "If we can improve our shortcomings in the next two years, we will able to stand on the podium at the PyeongChang Games."
Pilot Won and brakeman Seo ended the 2015-2016 International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation season with two gold and three silver medals at eight IBSF World Cup races. Though they finished seventh at the world championships, they were still able to end the season as the top-ranked tandem thanks to their second World Cup victory of the season last month in Germany.
The two athletes were surprised that they took the grand prize of the Coca-Cola Sports Awards, an award that honors amateur athletes since 1995. Previous MVP winners include former Olympic champion figure skater Kim Yu-na and Olympic gold medalist marathoner Hwang Young-cho.
"It's like a dream," Won said. "I think this award is not only for us, but to all people related to the South Korean bobsleigh team."
But before they celebrated the top honor, Won and Seo were in tears at the awards ceremony after their coach Malcolm Lloyd, who passed away in January at the age of 68, was named the top coach of the year. Receiving the award on behalf of the Welshman, they read a letter that they wrote to the pay tribute to the late coach.
"He was like a father to us," the 30-year-old Won said. "When we were disappointed in ourselves, he cheered us up and forged us into a better team."
For the upcoming Winter Games, Won and Seo were determined to win a medal for Lloyd and for South Korea. Seo, 24, said their partnership is reaching its prime.
"After playing six years together, we now know each other's thoughts by just looking at each other," Seo said. "Won leads me very well and helps me focus when I'm mentally exhausted."
The bobsleigh tandem said that they haven't yet gotten to race tracks at the Alpensia Sliding Centre in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, but just by looking at it, they think it will not be an easy course. Nevertheless, Won and Seo are satisfied with their bobsleigh manufactured from their home country.
"Of course at the PyeongChang Games, we will be racing with a locally made sleigh," Won said. "It's a really big achievement that local developers made a sleigh in two years and were able to match the expertise of overseas manufacturers who have made sleighs for about 100 years."
Won and Seo said that they were thankful that people are now paying much more attention to bobsleighing than in the past, and they will answer back by winning a medal at the PyeongChang Games.
"I don't think any Olympic athlete goes to the Games knowing they will win medals," Won said. "We will be preparing hard for the next two years and will try to become athletes who will come the closest to winning a gold medal." (Yonhap)
