After tragedy, new and happy life for South Korean shooter Lee

To his wife, the champion said, "I give you my heart-felt gratitude."

Lee had been a taekwondo coach before he had a traffic accident in 2001.

His life was saved, but he can't walk anymore and his arms are stiff.

It had been a difficult time to become a disabled from an able-bodied person, which the man didn't want to recall too much.

"My parents, my brother and two sisters encouraged me a lot, and I can't let them down," he said.

But sometimes, misfortune could be a blessing in disguise, as was the famous case of American shooter Matthew Emmons, who blew an Olympic gold but found his love of life.

This is also true for Lee.

When he was in hospital after the accident, someone told him that a nurse insisted on meeting him.

"At first, I didn't like the idea of meeting a stranger," he said with a smile, casting a glimpse at Park, who was busy helping him with the urine test.

But later, he felt his decision was absolutely correct.

"She is a really kind-hearted person, the type that I like," he admitted.

Now Lee has a happy family that will be expanded in four months, and owns an online store selling ladies' clothes, with his wife being the model.

Similarly, shooting too is something that came to him as unexpected.

Since he could no longer practice taekwondo after being disabled, the energetic man was at a loss over what to do next.

In 2003, he met a shooting coach by chance.

"He was a successful coach who helped South Korea win its first Olympic shooting gold in 1992," he recalled.

Then the story was simple: the coach took him to several competitions, and Lee began to like the sport.

"It was very interesting," he hence started training.

In retrospect, Lee, who was too shy to talk much, said he cherished the moments of shooting.

"It brought me happiness, and I will continue," he said.

Editor:Chen Ge