Korean Olympic Training

Happy Monday! The start of the 2008 Summer Olympics is fast approaching (8/8/08)! As you all know, Stephanie will actually be in Beijing to witness this event and all its crowded, humid, polluted excitement! Stay tuned for her Olympic coverage :-p.

We aren't the only ones getting ready for the excitement of the Olympics -- the actual Olympic competitors have been pushing through with full force. Why, ITTF just released an article about how the Koreans--who have produced 2 Men's Singles Olympic Gold Medalists, Yoo Nam Kyu in '88 and Ryu Seung Min in '04--are "training in earnest."



Okay, so what does training really mean? Here's a youtube video to show you what "training" on the ping pong table is (sound is lagged, but it's the best I could find)...

"Training" consists not only of doing table drills but also of doing footwork drills, jumproping, sprints, endurance runs, and weight training.

The Koreans are known for their being in tip top shape and for training super hard. This is a glimpse of a typical day of Korean National Table Tennis Team training:

5 :00 am - Wake up before the hot Korean summer heat hits
6:00-7:00 am - Training starts with 30 minutes stretching, 30 minutes running
7:00-8:00 am - Breakfast and rest
8:00-12:00 pm - First session of table training
12:00-2:00 pm - Lunch and rest
2:00-6:00 pm - Second session of table training
Optional training in the evening.

Phew! I get tired just writing about that training schedule! Also, the Korean National Players' Village is situated at the foot of Mount Bul-Am. Training in that location is meant to boost the players' power and endurance. I think I probably would die...

Read the full story here:
http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story1.asp?ID=15802&Category=General&Competition_ID=&