US team earns 12 gold, 14 silver, and 5 bronze medals for overall victory
Two golfers from Colorado contribute to the US team’s tally with 2 golds, 2 silvers, and a bronze
On the 19th, the curtains were drawn on the 104th National Sports Festival in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, South Korea, which saw the participation of an American delegation in the overseas category. The US team emerged victorious in the overseas Koreans’ division, bagging 12 gold, 14 silver, and 5 bronze medals. Japan followed in second place, and Indonesia secured the third spot.
The US team’s victory, marking their third consecutive overall win, was significantly boosted by their performance in golf. The team clinched its third straight victory in the sport, with golfer Lee Haeri securing gold in both individual and team events, earning her a double gold title. Sang-eun Lee, representing Colorado, collaborated for a team gold. Additionally, Andrew Joo secured two silver medals, while Colorado’s Soo-bin Lee added a silver and a bronze to the tally. The golf team’s head, Shin Yang-su, praised the players, noting, “Despite facing challenges like jet lag and different golf courses compared to the US, the players persevered and gave their best.”
The festival witnessed participation from 1,316 overseas Korean athletes from 18 countries, making it the largest since 2019. The US, dispatching the largest delegation, saw 128 players and officials participating. The American athletes showcased their skills in various disciplines such as bowling, squash, tennis, table tennis, and taekwondo. The US continued its winning streak from the 100th festival in 2019 and last year’s 103rd edition held in Ulsan.
