Jeon Min-jae Speaks ⁤Out on Lack of Support at Paris Paralympics

Jeon Min-jae,‌ a renowned Korean disabled athlete, expressed her disappointment and ⁤frustration with the Athletics Federation after the Paris Paralympics.

Jeon, who ​secured ‌7th place in the women’s 100m finals, shared⁢ a letter she had written⁢ beforehand with reporters, highlighting the challenges she‌ faced due to the lack of ‘live support’.

“This year, I couldn’t accept assisted living, which caused significant inconvenience during training.‌ For many years, my mother provided assisted living and was by my side, allowing me to focus on my training. However,‍ without‍ her support, I encountered numerous ‌difficulties.”

Jeon revealed that the ‌reason‌ her⁤ mother couldn’t provide live support during the games was due‍ to opposition from an executive at the Korea Athletics Federation for the Disabled.

“I have‌ difficulty with my hands and speech, so I need help more than⁣ anyone else. However,‍ an⁤ executive⁢ from the ‌athletics federation strongly opposed my mother’s involvement, citing that I ‌could manage alone ‌without live support. This was an extremely unfair situation for me.”

Jeon claimed that⁢ the executive’s decision was based on personal feelings, stating, “My opinion was ​not ‌reflected, even by 1%.” She also questioned​ the ​federation’s abuse of power, adding, “The reason I didn’t participate in the Iksan‌ Championships last April​ was also due to the lack of live support.”

In response, the federation ‌apologized for the situation but⁢ stated that the decision not to provide live support ‌was based on discussions by the Professional Sports Committee, not personal feelings.

The federation explained⁣ that they‍ had selected​ a large number of national team players to⁢ participate in the‌ Paralympic Games, considering the limited budget. They ⁤also mentioned that⁤ Jeon Min-jae’s living support would be provided by the state⁤ from 2022 due ⁣to her⁢ personal history.

Jeon Min-jae, who suffered from brain lesions at the age of 5, gained international recognition‌ at the​ 2012 ​London Games, where she won two ⁢silver medals. She conveyed her thoughts on ‍winning ‍the prize in a letter written with her feet.

Initially, the 47-year-old athlete considered retirement but later announced her⁣ intention ‌to compete in the Asian Games paragames.