1. Overview
Kim Jong-il (김종일Kim Jong-ilKorean), born on September 11, 1962, is a pioneering South Korean retired long jumper. He is widely celebrated for his significant achievements in the sport, most notably winning two gold medals at the Asian Games and securing a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay. Kim Jong-il holds a historic place in Korean athletics as the first Korean track and field athlete to reach an Olympic final, a milestone achieved at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. His personal best jump of 26 ft (8 m), set in August 1988, stands as a testament to his athletic prowess. Following his distinguished athletic career, Kim transitioned into an accomplished career in both coaching and academia, continuing to contribute to the development of sports.
2. Early Life and Athletics Beginnings
Kim Jong-il's journey from his early days to becoming a prominent figure in Korean athletics is marked by his foundational education and his early engagement with track and field.
2.1. Childhood and Education
Born on September 11, 1962, Kim Jong-il hails from Jincheon, a county in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. He pursued his higher education at Dong-A University, where he completed his undergraduate degree in physical education in 1986. His academic foundation in sports laid the groundwork for both his competitive career and his later contributions as a coach and scholar.
2.2. Start of Athletics Career and National Team Selection
Kim Jong-il embarked on his competitive athletics career relatively early, joining the Korean national track and field team in 1979. This early selection indicated his significant potential in the sport. His initial international appearance quickly made an impact, as he secured a gold medal in the long jump at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, marking his emergence on the international stage.
3. Major Athletics Career
Kim Jong-il's major athletics career was defined by consistent high-level performances and groundbreaking achievements at both regional and global competitions.
3.1. Asian Games Achievements
Kim Jong-il's dominance in the long jump was particularly evident at the Asian Games. He won his first gold medal in the long jump at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, achieving a distance of 26 ft (7.94 m). This was the second-best long jump result in Asian Games history at the time, only surpassed by T.C. Yohannan's 26 ft (8.07 m) jump in 1974. In this competition, Kim narrowly edged out Liu Yuhuang by 2.0 in (5 cm) and Junichi Usui by 2.8 in (7 cm).
He successfully defended his title at the 1986 Asian Games, which were held in his home country, Seoul. He once again jumped 26 ft (7.94 m), securing another gold medal, placing 0.8 in (2 cm) ahead of Junichi Usui and 5.5 in (14 cm) ahead of Chen Zunrong. Beyond his individual long jump successes, Kim Jong-il also contributed to the South Korean 4 x 100 metres relay team at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, where they earned a bronze medal. He had also previously won bronze medals in the 4x100m relay at the 1981 Asian Athletics Championships in Tokyo and the 1983 Asian Athletics Championships in Kuwait City.
3.2. Olympic Participation and Key Records
Kim Jong-il participated in two Olympic Games, leaving a significant mark on Korean sports history. His first Olympic appearance was at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In the long jump qualifying round, where athletes needed to be among the top twelve or achieve at least 26 ft (7.9 m), Kim began with a non-valid jump. His second jump measured 25 ft (7.67 m) against a 5.6 mph (2.5 m/s) headwind. However, with his crucial final qualifying jump of 26 ft (7.87 m), he secured the ninth spot overall, advancing to the final round. This made him the first Korean track and field athlete ever to reach an Olympic final. In the final, Kim opened with jumps of 25 ft (7.76 m) and 26 ft (7.81 m). The latter jump placed him in eighth position, allowing him three additional jumps. Despite this opportunity, his subsequent jumps of 25 ft (7.77 m) and 25 ft (7.59 m), alongside two fouls, meant he maintained his eighth-place finish.
He returned to the Olympic stage for the 1988 Summer Olympics, held in Seoul, his home city. Competing in the long jump, his series of jumps measured 24 ft (7.36 m), 25 ft (7.68 m), and 25 ft (7.7 m). These results placed him sixteenth overall in the qualifying round, meaning he did not advance to the final on this occasion. The cutoff for the final was 25 ft (7.77 m). Notable athletes who also failed to reach the final included Chen Zunrong and Junichi Usui, as well as future 1996 Olympic relay champions Bruny Surin and Glenroy Gilbert.
3.3. Other International Competitions and Personal Best
Throughout his career, Kim Jong-il competed in numerous other international events, consistently performing at a high level. In 1981, he demonstrated his potential by winning the long jump at the Mexico City International Junior Athletics Tournament with a jump of 26 ft (7.98 m), and also at the Seoul International Junior Athletics Tournament (25 ft (7.63 m)) and the Yokohama International Junior Friendship Athletics Tournament (26 ft (7.8 m)). At the 1981 Asian Athletics Championships, he finished fifth in the long jump with 24 ft (7.43 m), in addition to his bronze medal in the 4x100m relay. He secured third place at the 1982 World University Games with a jump of 25 ft (7.65 m) and finished seventh at the 1983 Summer Universiade (25 ft (7.62 m)). In 1984, he placed second at the Olympic Main Stadium Opening Memorial International Athletics Tournament, jumping 26 ft (7.78 m).
In January 1985, he competed at the inaugural 1985 IAAF World Indoor Games in Paris, where he finished eleventh with a mark of 24 ft (7.31 m). Just four days prior, he had achieved 26 ft (7.84 m) at a meet in Osaka, where he placed third. He also won the Seoul International Athletics Tournament in 1985 with a jump of 26 ft (7.89 m). In the 1985 Summer Universiade, he placed eleventh in the qualification round with 24 ft (7.39 m). Kim continued to train rigorously, including a period from 1986 to 1987 in the United States, where he trained with the Houston Cougars under the University of Houston. In 1987, he took third place at the Yomiuri International Indoor Athletics Tournament with 25 ft (7.56 m), and finished fifth at the 1987 Asian Athletics Championships (25 ft (7.76 m)). He also participated in the 1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships, finishing fifteenth in the qualifying round with a jump of 25 ft (7.53 m). His final major international competition was the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, where he placed fourth in the long jump.
Kim Jong-il achieved his lifetime best result of 26 ft (8 m) in August 1988 at a pre-Olympic meet held in Seoul. This personal best solidified his status as one of Asia's premier long jumpers.
4. Post-Retirement Career
After concluding his active career as an athlete, Kim Jong-il transitioned into new professional endeavors, focusing on academic pursuits and coaching.
4.1. Academic Career
Following his undergraduate studies at Dong-A University, Kim Jong-il furthered his education in the United States. He earned his master's degree from Washington State University in 1993, and subsequently completed his doctoral thesis at the same institution in 1996. Demonstrating his commitment to education, Kim became a professor in the Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance and Sport department at Calvin College during the 1997-98 academic year.
4.2. Coaching Career and Awards
Concurrent with his academic role, Kim Jong-il also embarked on a distinguished coaching career. At Calvin College, he served as the head coach for the men's track and field team starting in the 1997-98 academic year. In 2002, he expanded his coaching responsibilities by also taking on the role of head coach for the women's track and field team. He continued to coach both teams until stepping away from track and field coaching after the 2010 season.
His excellence as a coach was recognized with several prestigious awards. He was selected as the NCAA Division III National Women's Coach of the Year in both 2002 and 2003. In 2003, he achieved a remarkable feat by also being named the Men's Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach to win both awards in the same year. These accolades underscore his significant impact on collegiate athletics and his dedication to developing student-athletes.
5. Legacy and Assessment
Kim Jong-il's career is celebrated for its significant impact on Korean athletics, his pioneering spirit, and his lasting contributions to the sport both on and off the field.
5.1. Contribution to Korean Athletics
Kim Jong-il's contributions to the development and history of track and field in South Korea are profound. His two gold medals at the Asian Games firmly established him as a premier long jumper in Asia and a national hero. More importantly, his achievement at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where he became the first Korean track and field athlete to reach an Olympic final, was a groundbreaking moment. This accomplishment not only raised the profile of Korean athletics on the global stage but also served as an inspiration for future generations of athletes, demonstrating that Koreans could compete and succeed at the highest levels of international competition. His sustained performance and records helped popularize track and field in Korea and laid a foundation for future successes.
5.2. Public Perception and Commemoration
Kim Jong-il is widely regarded in South Korea as a legendary figure in athletics, particularly for his pioneering achievements in the long jump. His success at the Asian Games and, especially, his historic Olympic final appearance garnered significant public attention and admiration. He is remembered for his dedication, skill, and for breaking new ground for Korean track and field. While specific public commemoration activities or memorials were not detailed in the available sources, his legacy as a trailblazer and a highly decorated athlete ensures his prominent place in the nation's sporting history.