Friend Watches Friend Lose in Taekwondo

S Y D N E Y, Australia, Sept. 27, 2000 -- At the U.S. Olympic Trials in May,

Esther Kim sacrificed a chance to compete for her country so that

her injured friend, Kay Poe, could have the honor instead.

Today, Kim watched from the stands as Poe lost herfirst-round bout in the karate-like sport of taekwondo, ending herhopes of winning the gold medal.

But while the gold got away, and then even an outside shot at abronze, Kim said her sacrifice wasn’t wasted.

“I’m proud of her, win or lose,” Kim said. “She should beproud. She hasn’t let anyone down.”

Selfless Act Garners Attention

The story behind Poe’s trip to the Olympics has been among themost captivating of the Sydney Games.

For years, Kim, 20, and Poe, 18, had trained together in Houstonunder the coaching of Kim’s father, Jim Won Kim.

When the trials were held, Poe was ranked No. 1 in the world inthe flyweight class and seemed destined for Sydney. But shedislocated a kneecap in the semifinals, leaving her unable tocompete in the finals against Kim.

Kim, who would have been an underdog if Poe had been healthy,decided to give up her chance to make the team by forfeiting thematch to Poe — a decision her father supported.

Kim’s decision to sacrifice her own chance to compete in Sydneywas soon picked up by the media, and before long she was eventelling her story to Oprah Winfrey.

Kim was invited to the games by IOC president Juan AntonioSamaranch and watched from the stands as Poe took to the ring forher first bout.

Cautious Approach Costs Poe

At first, Poe looked like a solid bet.

She led Hanne Hoegh Poulsen of Denmark 3-1 going into the finalround, but appeared overwhelmed as Poulsen outscored her 4-0 in thefinal period. Poulsen had one point deducted to finish with theone-point victory.

Poe would have had a shot at a bronze medal had Poulsen reachedthe finals. But Poulsen was eliminated later in the day byAustralia’s Lauren Burns.

“I was much more cautious today than usual,” Poe said. “I’m usually very aggressive, but today I just didn’t play my game.”

Poe said she wasn’t distracted by all the media attention herstory has attracted.

“At first I was in total shock about all the publicity that wehad gotten,” she said. “But I think I didn’t let it affect me asmuch as before.

“I’m representing me and Esther,” she said. “But I’m also representing the rest of the country, my parents, my trainingpartners, my coaches, which everybody else has as well. So that’spart of the Olympic Games.”

Advice From the Stands

Kim shouted advice to her friend throughout the bout, tellingher to watch the way Poulsen was repeatedly throwing the same kindof kick combination.

And though her friend lost, she said their friendship isprobably now even stronger.

“She got to this point, she’s already a winner,” Kim said.“She got to the Olympics. How many people get that chance? I knowshe really wants to try again in 2004.”

Kim said she was satisfied with her own Olympic experience, too,though she never got into the ring.

“It was kind of like I was out there anyway,” she said. “I’ve experienced almost everything the other Olympians have done. Theonly difference is that I don’t get to walk in the opening andclosing ceremonies, stay in the Olympic village and compete.

“I don’t regret it at all,” she said. “I’m grateful andthankful to be out here.”

Are the 2004 Olympics in her future plans?

“Hopefully not,” she said.

“I think after another year or two I’m done. I’m going on 15years in taekwondo. I really want to start living a normal life anddoing the things I haven’t been able to do.”