An Se-young, South Korea’s badminton sensation and the current world number one in women’s singles, brought home a gold medal from the Paris 2024 Olympics. Yet, behind her dazzling success lies a story of frustration and hardship, as An recently announced her decision to quit the national team, citing years of mistreatment.
At 15, An became the youngest player ever to be selected for the South Korean national badminton team. While her talent quickly propelled her to the top, she was also subjected to the harsh realities of team hierarchy. For seven long years, An was tasked with doing chores for her older teammates—everything from fixing their rackets to doing their laundry. These duties significantly cut into her rest and training time, leading to mounting dissatisfaction.
An’s family sought help from the Badminton Association, hoping she could return to her club team for better training conditions and a chance to recover from injuries. However, their requests were met with indifference, leaving An to struggle with the demands placed upon her by the national team.
Following her Olympic triumph, An spoke out against the national team’s treatment of her and withdrew from several upcoming international competitions. Her candid remarks led to a wave of criticism from South Korean netizens, forcing An to issue a public apology on Instagram.
An Se-young’s experiences shed light on the challenges that young athletes often face behind the scenes, even as they achieve incredible feats on the world stage.
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