SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016

South Korean gymnast ‘awed’ by selfie fame

SEOUL: South Korean gymnast Lee Eun-Ju, who found herself in the inter- national spotlight after taking a selfie with a North Korean competitor in Rio, said yesterday she was surprised by the extraordinary response to such a sim- ple act. A snapshot of Lee and North Korea’s Hong Un-Jong posing for the selfie on Lee’s phone swiftly went viral on Twitter, with many hailing the image as a perfect illustration of the Olympic spirit. The photo has been tweeted and shared hundreds of thousands of times, with the likes of IOC president Thomas RIO DE JANEIRO: , , and , of , pose with fans after winning the gold medal match Bach describing it as a “great gesture.” against Britain in the mens at the 2016 Summer Olympics. — AP In a radio interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS yesterday, the 17-year- old said the decision to grab a selfie Tears of joy: Fiji celebrates ‘biggest day’ with Hong had been totally sponta- neous. half-time people were already celebrating. It was the South Pacific in Fiji. “The sevens game is amazing,” Khalil said. Traffic was gridlocked in the more than a game in Fiji and it is a major unifying “I saw her and asked to take a pic- capital Suva where the streets were filled with force. “The entire nation, young, old, men, ture together as a souvenir,” Lee said. “I people singing and dancing. In the rugby- women, children and adults and people from didn’t expect such a huge reaction so RUGBY obsessed island nation, the gold medal victory across the political divide will come together in I’m still awed by that,” she added. Lee was also seen as a chance to put behind them the celebration.” University vice chancellor Rajesh was only nine when Hong — 10 years SUVA, Fiji: Fijians erupted in celebration yester- memories of four coups over the past 30 years of Chandra said the victory also showed that a small her senior-became the first female day, setting off flares and dancing in the streets political upheaval. Pacific island nation “can overcome our limita- North Korean gymnast to win an while a national holiday was declared after the “The win was truly a historic moment for Fiji,” tions of size, low income, and many other vulner- Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008. tiny nation won its first ever Olympic medal-and said Shailendra Singh, a former sports journalist abilities and handicaps and take on the big boys The two had never met before Rio, but gold at that. The South Pacific island country and now head of journalism at the University of internationally”. — AFP Lee said she had been impressed came to a standstill at the start of the rugby sev- watching Hong compete on television. ens final against Great Britain, and by half-time The photo of the two athletes resonat- the fireworks had started and there was a monu- mental chorus of car horns as it became evident Stardom awaits gymnastics ed at a time of growing tension Fiji would win and create history. between North and South Korea who “This is the biggest day in Fiji’s history. champion Cinderella Biles technically remain at war since the Everyone is celebrating,” said photographer Feroz 1950-53 Korean War concluded with- Khalil who watched the final on the big screen at tive attitude. “She told me she would take out a formal peace treaty. the main stadium in Suva. “It was crazy. There a year off and go to college.” Biles was so Civilian communication between were people chanting, crying, tears were flowing. dominant that she could have fallen twice the two countries is almost non-exis- I’m feeling so happy.” Prime Minister Voreqe and still romped to the all-around title. tent and South Koreans are forbidden Bainimarama, who was in Rio de Janeiro to watch GYMNASTICS Apart from a hop on the landing of her from travelling to the North without the final, announced there would be a public hol- opening vault she gave a confident display prior permission. The international iday on August 22, the day after the team arrive RIO DE JANEIRO: Simone Biles joined the of gravity-defying tumbles, twists and flips sporting arena offers one of the rare home. In a message to the nation Bainimarama ranks of gymnastics legends on Thursday on her maiden Games to win by 2.100 said “every Fijian is rejoicing” around the world. opportunities for some North-South with stardom awaiting the Cinderella who points over US teammate Aly Raisman. “Never before has the Fijian spirit soared so high has overcome a difficult past to claim the “Congratulations @Simone_Biles and bonding, although the level of interac- as it does today. Never have we stood so tall as a tion is usually dictated by the prevail- coveted Olympic women’s all-around title @Aly_Raisman What a beautiful success...,” nation.” tweeted Comaneci, who was among the ing state of relations. In the past, the for a second gold in Rio. The 19-year-old Fiji chief executive John Texan, whose life story is worthy of a spectators in the Rio Olympic Arena. two nations have fielded joint teams O’Connor told AFP nearly all of Fiji’s 900,000 resi- Hollywood movie, etched her name along- Biles scored highest on three of four for some sporting events and they dents would have gathered around television side the greats of the sport such as Nadia rotations-beam, vault and floor-to keep marched together under one flag at sets in the 110 populated islands to watch the Comaneci. Comaneci, the 1976 Montreal on track for a record haul of five gold at the 2000 and 2004 summer Olympics. historic event. “Everyone is very excited. gold medalist and first to earn a perfect one Games with finals on those appara- That initiative ended in Beijing due to Wherever there was a TV in a village there were 10.0 score, was like Biles coached by tus to come. Five golds would see her heightened tensions on the divided people gathered round. There were about 2,000 Romanian Martha Karolyi, who defected to overtake Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina Korean peninsula. “I don’t really know people packed in the main stadium watching the the United States in 1981. And Karolyi, who (1956), Czech Vera Caslavska (1968) and game on the big screen. “Some people may go to about politics, but I don’t think we have will retire after many years coaching the Romanian Ecaterina Szabo (1984), who work now but I don’t think they will be very pro- US’ top gymnasts after Rio, predicted great have all won four at the same Games. As a terrible relationship with North ductive.” Many who did go to work finished early Korea,” Lee said in another interview things for her young prodigy. well as being the first to win three con- to join the festivities as the blue Fijian flag flew secutive all-around world titles last with local media. “We mingle and say “I’m sure she will be a big star. She’ll be proudly from homes, businesses and vehicles. a millionaire,” said 73-year-old Karolyi. October, she has won more world gold hello with athletes from other coun- Fiji scored first after just 55 seconds, led 29-0 “There are so many things she wants to do. medals — 10 — than any other female tries, so why can’t we (North and South at half-time and finished up thrashing Great She’s such a happy, smiley girl with a posi- gymnast in history.—AFP Koreans) do that?” she asked. — AFP Britain by an emphatic 43-7. “By the time it was