Second-generation athletes are making their mark at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, following in the footsteps of their parents. The men's basketball competition has seen a surge of 'family medalists,' with other sports also showcasing the next generation's quest for medals.
Leading the charge is Lee Hyun-jung, the ace of the men's basketball team. On September 20, he scored 27 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in the final against Japan, helping South Korea secure its first Asian Games gold medal in 12 years. Throughout the tournament, Lee averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.3 steals, contributing to the team's perfect record of six wins.
Lee's mother, Sung Jeong-ah, is a legendary center and director of the Korea Basketball Association. She won gold at the 1990 Beijing Games, and now, 36 years later, her son has followed in her footsteps. Upon returning to Incheon International Airport on September 21, Lee expressed his gratitude, stating, "Compared to what my mother achieved, I still have a long way to go. I will do my best to catch up. It is incredibly moving to win a gold medal just like my mother did."
Yoo Gi-sang, also a member of the basketball team, has joined the ranks of Asian Games gold medalists alongside his parents. His father, Yoo Young-dong, is a legendary figure in badminton, having won five gold medals since the 1994 Hiroshima Games. His mother, Park Young-ah, also won gold in the women's team event at the same competition.
Brothers Moon Jung-hyun and Moon Yu-hyun made history by both standing on the podium together. The two were the first overall picks in the professional basketball draft and surprised their parents by presenting them with gold medals after the victory. Moon Jung-hyun remarked, "Winning gold medals together as brothers is a great joy for our family. It’s a meaningful day," he said with a smile.
Looking ahead, the legacy of athletic achievement continues. Badminton player Kim Won-ho aims to join the ranks of 'mother-son gold medalists.' His mother, Gil Young-ah, is a badminton legend and coach, having won seven medals at the Asian Games and Olympics, including gold in the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games team event and the mixed doubles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Kim and his mother have already made history at the Olympics, with Kim winning a silver medal in mixed doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, making them the first mother-son Olympic medalists from Korea. However, they have yet to secure an Asian Games gold. Kim previously competed in men's doubles at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, where he won a silver medal. This time, he is partnering with Seo Seung-jae and is considered a strong contender for gold, given their world ranking.
Kim's event in men's doubles will take place from September 25 to 29.
Gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong has already made her mark as a 'father-daughter Asian Games gold medalist.' Her father, Yeo Hong-cheol, achieved back-to-back golds in vault at the 1994 Hiroshima and 1998 Bangkok Games, while Yeo Seo-jeong won gold in vault at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games.
Yeo Seo-jeong missed the previous Hangzhou Games due to a scheduling conflict with the World Championships. Returning to the Asian Games after eight years, she expressed her aspirations, saying, "I would be really happy if I could match my father's record."
The women's gymnastics team event finals will be held on September 23, followed by individual event finals on September 24 and 25.
In men's sport climbing, Lee Do-hyun's father, Lee Chang-hyun, coached the South Korean team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Lee Do-hyun, who learned climbing from his father, became the first South Korean male athlete to win gold in lead climbing at the World Championships in Seoul last year. He won a silver medal in the combined event at the previous Hangzhou Games and is now aiming for his first gold in both bouldering and lead climbing at this tournament.
Another climber, Seo Chae-hyun, has a father who is a former national team coach in ice climbing. The duo has also shared the stage at the Paris Olympics as coach and athlete. Seo Chae-hyun reached the semifinals in Hangzhou but had to settle for a silver medal when the final was canceled due to bad weather. This season, she has won one silver and four bronze medals in the Women's Lead at the World Climbing Series and is now aiming for the first Asian Games gold medal for South Korean women in climbing.
Sport climbing events will take place from September 29 to October 3.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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