Coach denies harassment of marathon runner, says contact was to ‘support athlete’ at finish line

Kim Wan-gi, head coach of the Samcheok City Hall track and field team, has denied accusations that he made inappropriate physical contact with a female runner at the Incheon International Marathon, saying the controversy stems from “a misunderstanding caused when her solar plexus hit my arm.” Kim addressed the issue in an interview with News1 on Monday. “Marathons are very demanding. Many female athletes collapse or faint as soon as they cross the finish line,” he said. “If we do not support them right away, they can fall and get hurt.” Kim said similar situations occur frequently. “Even at the Chuncheon Marathon, one of our runners nearly fainted. I caught her, but she was so weak that she ended up with bruises on her knees,” he said. He added that the athlete involved in the latest controversy apologized afterward. “She told me, ‘I came in at full speed and my solar plexus hit your arm. It hurt so much I instinctively pushed away,’” Kim said. “She apologized, saying the moment was shown on TV. I told her she had worked hard.” Kim acknowledged that the footagWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times