Kim Min-seok (Suwon City Hall), who clinched bronze for the third straight Asian Games, has set his sights on competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the next Asian Games.
On Wednesday, Kim secured the bronze medal in the men’s Greco-Roman wrestling 130 kg (about 287 lbs) class at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, outscoring Aslan Agadadayev (Turkmenistan) 7-2 in the bronze medal match.
Earlier that day, Kim had fallen to Rafael Chichuashvili (Uzbekistan) in the round of 16.
In wrestling, athletes who lose to eventual finalists get a second chance through repechage. With Chichuashvili advancing to the finals, Kim got his shot at redemption.
He capitalized on this opportunity, besting Olzhas Silybaev (Kazakhstan) 6-1 to reach the bronze medal bout, where he dominated Agadadayev to secure his place on the podium.
In a post-match interview, Kim couldn’t hide his frustration at missing out on the gold medal match.
He admitted that he’s gutted, absolutely gutted. He always envision making the finals if he starts strong, and this time was no different.
Reflecting on his round of 16 loss, Kim said that he believes he had the defensive skills to win. But he lost because his opponent out-trained him. Next time, he’ll be better prepared to come out on top.
This bronze marks Kim’s third straight at the Asian Games, following his performances in Jakarta-Palembang 2018 and Hangzhou 2022. It’s also Team Korea’s first wrestling medal at these Games.
Kim’s road to Aichi-Nagoya wasn’t smooth. In March, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle requiring surgery, but he postponed the procedure to compete. His dedication even extended to naming his unborn son, due in December, Kim Medal as a symbol of his championship aspirations.
For the first time, Kim’s wife and mother-in-law were in the stands cheering him on during the tournament.
Their presence was a huge boost, Kim shared. But it also added pressure since he’s used to tackling challenges solo. He was so on edge that his teammates noticed he wasn’t his usual self at dinner.
He added that his mother-in-law, along with a crowd of supporters and coaches, were all there rooting for me. Before stepping onto the mat, he just wanted to make his family proud. He even asked his unborn child for a little extra luck.
Looking ahead, Kim outlined his plans for the future.
He’ll undergo surgery and take next year off, he explained. After a full year of recovery and rebuilding, he’s setting his sights on Los Angeles. Medaling there is his ultimate goal.
He’s also gunning for my fourth Asian Games, Kim continued. With a bronze at this year’s Asian Championships, a top ranking in the series, and a silver at the China Open, he knows he’s still got what it takes. He’s refocusing and getting back in the game.