1. Early Life and Background
Jeon Min-jae's journey into athletics began after overcoming significant childhood challenges due to a disability acquired at a young age, leading her to discover her passion for sport later in life.
1.1. Childhood and Disability
Jeon Min-jae was born on July 12, 1977, in Jin'an County, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea. At the age of five, in 1982, she suffered from encephalitis of unknown cause, which resulted in a brain lesion disability and a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (classified as Grade 1). This condition significantly impacted her early development and education.
1.2. Education and Introduction to Athletics
Due to her disability, Jeon Min-jae entered elementary school relatively late, at the age of 19, in 1996, enrolling in a special education class. Her pivotal introduction to athletics occurred in 2003, when she was 26 years old and in her third year of middle school at Dongam Rehabilitation School. Her sports teacher, Kim Haeng-soo, recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue track and field seriously. This encouragement marked the beginning of her athletic career. In her early training days, Jeon Min-jae practiced diligently, often running along rice paddies in her free time to hone her skills.
2. Major Athletic Career
Jeon Min-jae has had a long and distinguished career, participating in numerous international and domestic competitions and accumulating a remarkable collection of medals.
2.1. Paralympic Games
Jeon Min-jae made her Paralympic Games debut at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. She competed in both the 100 metres and 200 metres sprint events, finishing 6th and 4th respectively. Four years later at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom, she achieved significant success, earning two silver medals in both the 100 metres and 200 metres finals. In both races, she finished second to Elena Sviridova of Russia. She continued her Paralympic success at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she secured another silver medal in the 200 metres event, solidifying her reputation as a world-class Paralympic sprinter. Her participation at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, France, marked her fifth consecutive appearance at the Paralympic Games. Although she narrowly missed a medal in the T36 200 metres, she demonstrated her enduring competitive spirit by engaging in a fierce battle for third place in the final 50 metres of the race.

2.2. IPC Athletics World Championships
Jeon Min-jae has also achieved notable success at the IPC Athletics World Championships. At the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships held in Lyon, France, she delivered a strong performance, earning a gold medal in the 200 metres T36 event and a silver medal in the 100 metres T36 event.
2.3. Asian Para Games
Her consistent dominance extends to the Asian Para Games, where she has been a prolific medalist across multiple editions. At the inaugural 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China, she won two silver medals in the 100 metres and 200 metres events. She continued her gold-winning streak at the 2014 Asian Para Games held in her home country, Incheon, South Korea, where she claimed gold medals in both the 100 metres and 200 metres. This was followed by another double gold performance at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, where she once again swept both the 100 metres and 200 metres events. At the most recent 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, held five years later due to postponement, Jeon Min-jae added two more silver medals to her collection in the 100 metres and 200 metres, achieving the remarkable feat of winning medals in four consecutive Asian Para Games.
2.4. National and Other Competitions
Beyond major international events, Jeon Min-jae has maintained a dominant presence in domestic competitions. She has achieved an impressive record of winning three gold medals for 15 consecutive years at the National Para Games in South Korea. Internationally, she also secured two bronze medals in the 100 metres and 200 metres events at the 2006 Asia-Pacific Para Athletics Championships held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
3. Awards and Honors
Throughout her illustrious career, Jeon Min-jae has received official recognition for her outstanding achievements and contributions to sports.
3.1. Decorations
On November 12, 2024, Jeon Min-jae was awarded the Order of Sports Merit (Maengho Medal) by the South Korean government. This decoration is a high honor recognizing her significant contributions to the development of sports and her exceptional athletic accomplishments.

4. Legacy and Reception
Jeon Min-jae is widely known as the "Smile Racer," a nickname reflecting her consistently bright and positive demeanor, even in the face of intense competition. Her unwavering resilience has been a defining characteristic throughout her long athletic career, which has spanned more than two decades. Despite being 46 years old at the time of the 2024 Paris Paralympics, she continued to push her limits and compete at the highest level, demonstrating remarkable endurance and determination. Her sustained performance and positive attitude have made her an inspiring figure, not only within disability sports but also for the broader public, embodying the spirit of perseverance and the power of the human will to overcome challenges.