Athletes embrace routines ahead of Asian Games

For athletes, routines can be a ritual that helps pave the way to victory. With the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games just 10 days away, South Korea’s national team athletes are relying on their own pre-competition rituals as they pursue gold.

Kim Min-jong, 26, who competes in the men’s over-100-kilogram judo division, writes the Chinese character “王,” meaning “king,” on the inside of his judo uniform collar with a marker before each match. “My grandmother suggested it, and that’s how I came to have this routine,” he said. Kim, the 2024 world champion and a silver medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is aiming to rule the mat again at this year’s Games.

On competition mornings, sepaktakraw player Kim Han-seol, 25, checks her horoscope and zodiac fortune to settle her nerves. She hopes the Games will help her “be remembered as the best player recognized by everyone.” Sailor Choi Ji-woon, 15, gets into the zone by listening to Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” followed by G-Dragon’s “Home Sweet Home.” Equestrian Lee Dong-hwa, 19, stays off her phone for two hours before competition so she can spend time bonding with her horse. Archer Park Jeong-yoon, 29, makes her bed before leaving for the competition venue.

Food is another part of the pregame routine for many athletes. Basketball player Byeon Jun-hyeong, 30, always drinks an Americano before a game. He also eats half a banana before tipoff and another half at halftime. Baseball pitcher Kwak Bin, 27, has a hamburger before a game.

Kim Woo-min, 25, a three-time gold medalist at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, claps his hands five times on the starting block just before a race. He said the ritual helps him maintain his composure. “Beyond the results and medals, I want to show that I’m happiest when I’m in the water, enjoying every race,” he said. Gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong, 24, manages her condition by taking a nap of at least 30 minutes before competition. Triathlete Park Sang-min, 26, kisses his bicycle before a race to bring himself a little winning luck. Volleyball player Jeong Han-yong always ties his right shoelace first.

South Korea is aiming to retain third place in the overall medal standings and will send a 1,052-member delegation to the Games, including 792 athletes competing in 41 sports.


Hong-Gu Kang windup@donga.com