At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on October 1, Huh Mimi secured the gold medal in the women’s 57-kilogram judo division at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, as reported by The Hankyoreh. The victory is a milestone for the 24-year-old athlete, who competed in her first Asian Games after recovering from shoulder surgery in 2024.
How Huh Mimi Captured Gold in Nagoya
Huh Mimi advanced through the tournament from the round of 16 to the final without major disruption, ultimately securing the gold medal via an early waza-ari score in the championship match. Reflecting on the final, Huh noted that she scored earlier than usual and spent the remaining 3 minutes and 50 seconds defending her lead. “When I saw the clock had 3 minutes and 50 seconds left, I wondered how I was going to endure,” she said in an interview with The Hankyoreh following the match.
Huh Overcomes Shoulder Surgery and Anxiety to Win
The victory followed a difficult recovery period for the South Korean representative. After claiming a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Huh underwent surgery on her left shoulder, marking her first time facing a major operation. She admitted to struggling with severe anxiety and a lack of confidence after failing to medal at a Grand Slam event in Mongolia in June 2026. “My heart was heavy last night and I couldn’t sleep well,” Huh told The Hankyoreh. “This was the most difficult moment of my short life.” Support from head coach Chung Sung-sook and reassurance from her team allowed her to refocus solely on competition.
Honoring Her Grandmother’s Final Wish
Born and raised in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and a Korean father, Huh Mimi adopted South Korean citizenship in 2021 to fulfill the dying wish of her grandmother, who urged her to wear the Taegeuk mark and compete in the Olympics. Following her victory, Huh expressed relief at fulfilling her promise to visit her grandmother’s gravesite with a gold medal. While the dual pressure of competing in Japan and carrying family legacy weighed heavily, she expressed profound gratitude for the support from fans across South Korea.
Singing the South Korean Anthem on the Podium
Prevented from singing the South Korean national anthem, Aegukga, after finishing with silver at the Paris Olympics, Huh prepared specifically for the Nagoya podium by studying the lyrics and their meanings in advance. With the gold medal secured, she listened to the anthem play in Japan, describing the feeling simply as “just really good.” She avoided inviting her parents to the venue to minimize personal pressure, intending instead to call her mother with the news of her victory.
More on Huh Mimi
Keep reading
