Olympic sharpshooter Kim Yeji eyes her next target

The silver medalist doesn't think she's better than John Wick, but is ready to work hard for her next shot at glory

Kim Yeji at Paris Olympics 2024

Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Words by Daniel Anderson

South Korean sharpshooter Kim Yeji isn’t letting the glittering gold of internet fame distract her from the next target in her sights. The Olympian took home silver during the women’s 10-meter air pistol competition in Paris—not traditionally a primetime-worthy event—and became a viral sensation for her “main character energy” and badass aura.

Sporting a fit that’s part cyberpunk assassin, part minimalist fashionista, Kim’s style is as sharp as her aim. A white baseball cap, a sleek black Fila jacket, and custom red pistol shoes contrasted with a cute elephant plush and towel, quickly won her hearts worldwide. She became a mythical figure with comparisons to anime characters and fictional gunslingers. Even Elon Musk chimed in on X, posting, “She should be cast in an action movie. No acting required!”

While some might see a stone-cold athlete, she couldn’t have been warmer and more humble on our Zoom call days before the end of the Olympic Games. She was all smiles, bright-eyed, and you’d never guess she’d just flown back to Korea the night before—no jet lag detected. Even when the interview got delayed because she was up in the mountains, she was so sweetly apologetic and actually hopped on the call earlier than scheduled. Talking about Parisian foods broke the ice, and she had her own happy conversation with my friend and translator, Aeri Kim. 

Kim Yeji spoke to JoySauce about her passion for sharpshooting, how she’s coping with her viral status and what’s next in her future.

This interview was conducted with a translator and edited for clarity and length.

Daniel Anderson: What was your childhood like? Were you always athletic? What did you dream of doing as a kid?

Kim Yeji: I wasn't particularly good at sports when I was young. I wasn't very athletic, and was just like any other typical student. My childhood dream was to become a doctor. There are doctors who go abroad to help many people, and I wanted to be someone like that. I wanted to help as many people as I could all over the world.

DA: When did you discover sharpshooting and when did you decide this is something you wanted to pursue at a pro level?

KY: When I entered middle school, they had a shooting club. That's where I first encountered shooting. When I first picked it up, there was great energy. The aspiration to be number 1 was born, and I thought to myself that I should become a professional shooter.

DA: What do you love most about shooting in particular? It feels like sort of a niche sport and not one many think of right away.

KY: So, when I'm shooting, I get to be in my own space. Although I train at the shooting range, I also do a lot of image training. Through that, I’ve learned to compete against myself. I enter this tunnel vision and when I leave, I really enjoy that feeling. 

DA: What does your typical training regimen look like?

KY: I exercise early in the morning and after my early morning workout, I get ready to go out for morning training. My morning training is 2.5 hours. After that, I have lunch, and then in the afternoon, I train again for 3 hours, have dinner, and continue with evening training for 2 hours.

DA: What you do takes a lot of concentration. Did you feel pressure during your events at the Olympics? How do you mentally prepare yourself to succeed?

KY: Yes, shooting is a sport that demands a lot of mental strength and concentration. In my case, I've tried everything to improve my focus. I spend most of my time training but if it’s not training specific, my favorites are puzzle activities like Sudoku.

DA: Has your skills and training in shooting helped you in other aspects of your life?

KY: Yes, they do. I believe that shooting is a sport that can develop concentration. So, in everyday life, it helps a lot with maintaining focus and managing emotions.

DA: Many viewers noticed the different stances and posture shooters would take before firing. Can you explain your particular stances? And did you ever expect they would make you go viral for looking cool?

KY: My particular stance is the result of my training. I have found it’s the posture that suits me the best. It’s not meant to impress. I don’t do it to try and look cool.

DA: You’ve gone viral and have been described as having “main character energy,” you’ve been compared to James Bond, John Wick, Satoru Gojou from the anime Jujitsu Kaisen and people have made lots of action anime fanart of you and other shooters. How are you handling all this new found attention and love?

KY: I’m not on their level, but I’m very grateful for the attention and comparisons to them. I've been thinking a lot about how I want to work harder in the future and use this opportunity to make this sport more famous. 

DA: Do you like action movies and television shows? Are you into anime at all? I am a K-pop and K-drama journalist, so I have to ask what kind of music do you like to listen to and do you like watching K-dramas?

KY: In the past, I used to watch a lot of dramas and movies because I really liked them, but lately I haven't watched that much because I'm training a lot and I don't have enough time, but I love K-dramas, K-movies, and K-food. I love Korea. Among the dramas I've watched before, I personally like historical period piece dramas. A favorite of mine is Deep Rooted Tree. As far as music, I don't specifically stick to any genre. If I think a song is good, I just enjoy listening to it.

DA: Can you talk about what kind of teamwork goes into what you do? It feels like an individual sport, but you also got to share glory with your team member Oh Yejin, who won gold. How have you two supported each other?

KY: I think teamwork is also important because it's a very mental sport, and if you don't have good teamwork, it's going to affect your training and show up in the end results. If you don't get along with your teammates, you're going to keep thinking about it while you're training, so you're not going to be able to concentrate. So I think it's very important to have a good relationship with your teammates. Yejin and I were roommates for the first time when we came to Châteauroux and we trained together, so it was nice.

DA: Talk to me about what was going on in your head during the 25-meter pistol qualifier? It didn’t go the way you hoped, how do you bounce back from those hard moments?

KY: Oh, the 25-meter event went really well, but because of one mistake, I couldn’t achieve a good result at this Olympics. However, this isn’t my last Olympics, and that one missed shot wasn’t my last shot, so I couldn’t give up then. I can’t give up now and I plan to keep working hard for the next Olympics.

DA: Aside from competing, what are some fun memories you have from the Paris Olympics? Did you get to watch any other sports or meet any athletes outside your sport that you admire?

KY: Our primary goals there are to train, the Olympics was split in between locations so I didn’t meet many of the other athletes. I supported them by watching and rooting for them when they were competing on the screen.

DA: How do you plan to unwind and relax now that you’re back in Korea? What activities do you like to do to center yourself?

KY: I haven’t really made any specific plans for relaxation yet because I still have some competitions and selection trials ahead. I didn’t regain my composure after returning to Korea; I actually did so right after the competition ended in Paris. I reminded myself that this isn’t my last Olympics, so I need to keep working hard. This isn’t the end, and that’s how I’ve kept my mindset focused.

DA: What can we expect from Kim Yeji at the next Olympics? And do you have a message for any of your fans?

KY: First of all, I want to sincerely thank all the fans who have loved, supported, and shown great interest in me. I plan to keep challenging myself. I will continue to compete in the upcoming World Championships, the Asian Games, the LA Olympics in 2028, and even the Olympics after that. There are some focus areas I need to pay more attention to and put effort into. I won’t let you down.

DA: Well, myself and others will be cheering you on and we can’t wait to see you compete at the LA Olympics.

KY: I’m the one who should be thanking you for the congratulations, and I really appreciate the interest you’ve shown in shooting. I hope to continue working hard and showing you a side that won’t disappoint, while also helping to spread the word about how captivating this sport truly is.

Kim Yeji, Me, and translator Aeri Kim

Daniel Anderson

 

Published on August 12, 2024

Words by Daniel Anderson

Daniel Anderson is a disabled Chinese American adoptee based in Seattle. His freelance writing specialties include K-pop, entertainment, and food. He believes that any restaurant can be a buffet, and the key to success is to take a nap each day. Follow his adventures on Instagram @danzstan.