Korean Student-Athlete Teen Breaks the "Athletically Challenged" Mold

Yong-hyun Cho, a senior at Newton South (Mass.) High School, won the 110-meter hurdle event at the statewide track and field competition. (photo: BostonKAP.com)

The following article is from BostonKAP.com, which published it earlier this month. 

With the 2008 Beijing Olympics underway, one athlete that 1.5 billion Chinese will be resting their Olympic glory on– aside from possibly NBA star Yao Ming - is 110-meter huddler Liu Xiang. 

He became an instant national hero when he won the gold medal in that event at the 2004 Athens Olympics.   Whew! All that pressure and having to defend your title against other top athletes, where’s Alka-Seltzer? 

Halfway around the world in New England, there is another budding track star.  Yong-hyun Cho, an upcoming senior at Newton South High School, won the boy’s 110-meter huddle at the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) track and field meet this spring.  (MIAA Eastern Division I to be exact.)

Yes, I’ll admit it is a gross misuse of hyperbole.  Cho’s personal best is about two full seconds behind Xiang’s world-record time.  And being a high school champion is far, far cry from being an Olympic champion and world record holder. 

But, hey, who knows, my recommendation is to get Cho’s autograph before it’s too late.

It’s great that student-athletes like Cho are helping to break long-held beliefs about Asian American students and athletics both in and outside the Asian community.  No need to elaborate beyond the public’s general perception of Asian American students as being academic-minded and athletically challenged -- because it is true to a certain extent, of course.

In Korea, as well in many Korean American families, where belief in academic success as a primary requisite for success in life is so entrenched, students are discouraged from playing sports unless there is a clear indication of athletic ability. 

For a long time, playing organized sports was looked down upon as a way out for students who couldn’t compete academically.  This attitude is gradually changing, though, as more student athletes are deservedly recognized in the academic and real world.

In the meantime, let’s just celebrate Cho’s accomplishments.  After MIAA, he went on to compete in the New England interscholastic regional and came in third in the finals. 

Regardless of his future successes in track and field, Cho is already a winner as a student athlete. 

As for life, it’s a long journey, my friend.

source:  BostonKAP.com

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