Lee Shi-young earns spot on national boxing team
by javabeans
How cool is this? Lee Shi-young, who took up amateur boxing a few years ago, has now qualified to be part of South Korea’s national boxing team. Dude. That’s awesome. I recall reading headlines that she was hoping to make the Olympic team, and now she’s one step closer to that goal.
Lee Shi-young, age 31, won her match in the final round for the national team tryouts on April 24 against her 19-year-old opponent (score 22-20). She’s the first celebrity to become a national team athlete for any sport. She competed in the 48kg weight class (Flyweight) but plans to compete at this year’s nationals in October in the 51kg category, since there is no 48kg class at the Asian Games.
All this while filming movies and doing the whole actress rigamarole as well; her last movie was rom-com Men: An Operating Manual (or How To Operate a Man), which performed fairly well at the box office and generated positive word of mouth.
I think it’s pretty remarkable that Lee Shi-young has made it all the way to national athlete status having only begun the sport in 2010, in preparation for a drama role. And even then it wasn’t that her Playful Kiss character even used those skills onscreen, but (if I recall correctly) that she used boxing to get into shape. She found herself enjoying the sport and kept up with it, and must’ve just had a natural aptitude for it. Congrats to her, however far she advances from here!
Via Osen, Review Star
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1 alee
April 24, 2013 at 9:21 AM
DAEBAK! That really is an amazing accomplishment for her and I hope she gets far! :)
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2 skelly
April 24, 2013 at 9:24 AM
Wow. Just wow. To advance so quickly, and at a later age (no matter how physically fit you are, it is harder to take up a sport the older you are) and to show such dedication as a true amateur--! Daeback, is right! I admire her very much for this.
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Jo
April 24, 2013 at 11:47 PM
I think this and her love for GUNDAM just....
my heart.
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3 bluebunny
April 24, 2013 at 9:25 AM
Cool but she is so SUPER SKINNY!
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Requiem
April 24, 2013 at 10:30 PM
That's actually kind of an advantage.
As the boxers need to make weight.
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Sarah2i
May 11, 2013 at 3:46 PM
Yea, I'm super impressed with her progress but can't give her full credit because shes in the wrong weight classes. Weight classes are meant to separate heights and get rid of physical advantages, but she's so skinny, she's in an incorrect weight class and has considerable height and reach advantages over her opponents. If she were in the under 55kg or under 60kg, where most girls of her height are in, I would applaud her.
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Quiet Thought
May 11, 2013 at 5:01 PM
Really, I always felt the only way to make professional basketball a fair sport would have been to saw the extra lengths off the limbs of the taller players so everyone could compete based on their skill, instead of some birth-advantage of having more height and reach.
Are you sure you thought this objection through before you started typing it?
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sarah2
May 13, 2013 at 4:21 PM
LOL thats EXACTLY what I'm saying, basketball players have an unfair advantage due to their height, in the same way, LSY has an unfair advantage due to her height; however, the difference between boxing and basketball is that boxing has weight classes while basketball doesn't. it's quite simple really
sarah3
May 13, 2013 at 4:31 PM
UR ALL ****** LSY IS ****** AWESOME
KTHXBAI
sarah2
May 13, 2013 at 4:32 PM
sorry my sis
4 apple
April 24, 2013 at 9:25 AM
She is awesome!
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5 Fun-lugha
April 24, 2013 at 9:29 AM
LSY my hero(ine)!
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6 geesdoubleyou
April 24, 2013 at 9:30 AM
omg this is amazing! :D i really look up to her ><
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7 Smile134
April 24, 2013 at 9:30 AM
Wow, you go girl :)
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8 jakebot
April 24, 2013 at 9:33 AM
That's pretty rad, I must say. Funny and tough? She's awesome!
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9 Mama J
April 24, 2013 at 9:38 AM
That's so cool! And not that 31 is old by just ANY stretch, but...it is kinda old by an athlete's stretch - especially for a sport taken up at 28 or 29. You GO, Missy.
As for national-level sports, I thought I remembered reading that Song Il Gook had been a fencer? But perhaps that was before he was a celebrity - so it's not celebrities who have been...but celebrities who are also?
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Gala
April 24, 2013 at 10:21 AM
And all the more impressive since she's been defeating boxers younger than her.
Sigh, I still feel she would've been the better choice for Level7-joo won drama...
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Annie
April 24, 2013 at 11:03 AM
Immeasurably better
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eleanor
April 24, 2013 at 12:25 PM
That would have been fabulous! I can just imagine the Joowoon chemistry now.
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canxi
April 24, 2013 at 12:55 PM
She was my first choice for that role, lol.
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canxi
April 24, 2013 at 12:59 PM
I love her! She's one of my favorites. She's funny and talented (apparently also a song-writer, sometimes!) and she's totally cool. She makes me want to take up boxing, too O:
Or just go for something I want to get into more despite being older! I think that's important to always be willing to move forth and learn and get better even if you don't start when you're very young. You never know where it will take you and LSY is obviously going places! Much respect and admiration for her ^^
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canxi
April 24, 2013 at 1:00 PM
oops! this was supposed to be it's own comment...I wonder what happened??
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nonski
April 24, 2013 at 7:11 PM
it would have been sooooo perfect! *sighs* lost opportunities
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Bengbeng
April 24, 2013 at 8:51 PM
and there is Jo Dalhwan who was a guest in the new hodong and max show. He was mentioned as national athlete in table tennis. just don't know if that is also before he became an actor
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10 meenuby
April 24, 2013 at 9:44 AM
Aww, I love her and more power to her! Now could she please get into a drama stat? Preferably a rom-com. :)
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11 MsB
April 24, 2013 at 9:48 AM
Wish her all the luck! When I saw Wild Romance, I knew those moves were real!!
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12 Celest
April 24, 2013 at 9:51 AM
Amazing!! You go, girl!
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13 pogo
April 24, 2013 at 9:53 AM
MAD RESPECT for her, here.
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14 dfwkimchi
April 24, 2013 at 10:07 AM
DAEBEK indeed for this accomplishment. She actually used her boxing skills in her role as a bodyguard (guarding Lee Dong Wook) in Wild Romance. That was my first glimpse of her natural boxing skills and then later read about her accomplishments in this sport.
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15 Hannah
April 24, 2013 at 10:15 AM
WOW! I've always found her to be cool and wow, she really is!! Big accomplishment indeed!
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16 Abbie
April 24, 2013 at 10:25 AM
This is so cool! Totally respect her! Fighting!
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17 Shiku
April 24, 2013 at 10:33 AM
*Clap, Clap* She is awesome!
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18 Sur
April 24, 2013 at 10:44 AM
wow she is so admirable.. just awesome.. all the best to her
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19 srkambbs
April 24, 2013 at 10:49 AM
She could do a romcom on boxing :DDD ... I love her characters. They and she are so cool~
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20 saranga
April 24, 2013 at 11:13 AM
good for her!! i think it's admirable that she's exploring/following other interests besides acting. it would be AMAZING if she really made the olympic team! if she makes it, what year would she compete?
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21 Zareen
April 24, 2013 at 11:17 AM
Good for her! It's nice to hear about celebrities that actually actively partake in activities outside the entertainment industry.
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22 mommai
April 24, 2013 at 11:20 AM
GO HER! :D
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23 mommai
April 24, 2013 at 11:20 AM
GO HER! :D
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24 ladida
April 24, 2013 at 11:24 AM
So cool! Congrats!
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25 Mia
April 24, 2013 at 11:43 AM
choc o_O
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9auXM1vPoA
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kfangurl
April 24, 2013 at 6:14 PM
Woah. Pretty fierce. I'm super impressed that as an actress, she'd go all out for a sport that could bruise / injure her face etc, since that's an actress' "rice bowl"
Mad props to her!
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26 snow_white
April 24, 2013 at 11:52 AM
congrats :)
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27 meri
April 24, 2013 at 12:04 PM
It sounds like a drama character description : 'genius' boxer/successful actress. lol but all jokes aside its very impressive and I think she's a great role model for young and older women!
Best of luck to her!
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28 Maris
April 24, 2013 at 12:09 PM
I was never into her as an actress but she has my full respect and admiration as a person. One needs lot of passion, discipline, hard work and will to achieve ones dreams and goals. Now, I actually want to more about her. I feel that time spent will not be wasted. Congratulations to her and all the best in the future too.
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29 eleanor
April 24, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Wow! Impressive. The more I see of her, the more I am impressed. I also love how she has the guts and determination to make it this far. Lee Shi-young hwaiting!
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30 ajewell
April 24, 2013 at 12:38 PM
Good for her!! *even though, honestly, I REALLLLY couldn't stand her when she made a guest appearance on Running Man*
So funny how things work out though!!
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31 blegh
April 24, 2013 at 12:49 PM
omg! I love this girl/woman. she's pure awesome!
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32 qiu
April 24, 2013 at 1:02 PM
she did something with her face right ? just curious it is okay to do a boxing ? i mean, sometimes her face get a punch right ? i 'am just worried...
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33 blokkoms
April 24, 2013 at 1:05 PM
She is now my girl crush. Next step, the Olympics! HWAITING!
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34 Mia
April 24, 2013 at 1:06 PM
WOW super woman!
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35 Cynthia
April 24, 2013 at 1:33 PM
It's a split reaction to this article - on one hand, I give her MAD PROPS to not only attempt this sport but to wipe the floor with her opponents and succeed on this level, and that's tremendous, and yet on the other hand, in acting usually the face is the 'money-maker' and the thought of the hard blows she must take to the face is just downright scary - blackened eyes, split lips and broken noses can certainly impact her drama filming.
Her type A driven personality has been obvious since her early career days on We Got Married - she's sweet and definitely has tunnel vision where her goals are concerned.
She is a role model for women/girls.
Just don't touch her toy Gundams. Ever.
:)
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Kay
April 24, 2013 at 1:35 PM
I think its more commendable that she really doesn't give about what happens to her face, the fact that this pretty actress is out there slugging it out in the ring simply cause she LOVES to do it makes me respect her more
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Lord of the Things
April 24, 2013 at 11:12 PM
I know! Its great that she's not afraid to follow her passion for fear of it damaging her 'image.' What a great example
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windsun33
August 16, 2013 at 10:56 PM
She must care somewhat, as she admitted to having plastic surgery a few years back.
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36 Kay
April 24, 2013 at 1:34 PM
I love this! so awesome and cool!! though I'm only 25, I'm trying all these new things in hopes I'll find something I just have a natural talent for (and maybe even make it to nationals !)
It's never too late to do anything, take for instance, the oldest sharpshooter in the world is a 78 year old indian grandmother, who has won over 25 national championships, having picked up a gun only 10 years prior too.....how awesome!
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37 __
April 24, 2013 at 1:43 PM
Mad respect.
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38 Faye
April 24, 2013 at 2:32 PM
Nice story, but forget boxing -- I still want in on that celebrity ski team :).
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39 Melodyshell
April 24, 2013 at 2:42 PM
Wasn't it her role for Wild Romance that she got prepared for as a body guard? Or did she get in shape for her Playful Kiss role as well?
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40 Arhazivory
April 24, 2013 at 2:52 PM
I love her for this!
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41 Noelle
April 24, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Makes me love her more.
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42 AnotherFan
April 24, 2013 at 4:07 PM
Oh this is totally cool. All the power to her!
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43 Kate
April 24, 2013 at 4:21 PM
She is so cool! Boxer by day, actress walking the red carpet by night!
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44 Lord of the Things
April 24, 2013 at 4:26 PM
New hero! She's the best
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45 Bu Young
April 24, 2013 at 5:08 PM
Wow, I wasn't aware of the background of her as a boxer! SO happy for her and congratulations to her!
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Bu Young
April 24, 2013 at 5:17 PM
of how she became a boxer, i mean!
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46 gaeinalee
April 24, 2013 at 5:34 PM
WOW, LSY. You go, girl! I'll cheer for you from afar.
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47 ilovekimchi
April 24, 2013 at 6:06 PM
Pure awesomeness! Wish her the best of luck at the games!
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48 Yon Yih
April 24, 2013 at 6:13 PM
actress, singer, model and boxer ... wow the fact she don't care whether boxing will hurt her face or not and constantly winnin many championship over the years for a sport she took up near her 30's, this ger deserve very high respect ... hope her dream to enter Olympic come true..fightin!
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49 kfangurl
April 24, 2013 at 6:15 PM
Daebak indeed! You go, girl!! Lee Shi Young, hwaiting!! :D
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50 Jade Butterfly
April 24, 2013 at 6:48 PM
Amazing & Admirable ! To be in the acting world where looks matter a great deal & decide to passionately pursue a sport where the daily chance of being bruised is a given , is such a brave & strong decision to make.
What a awe-inspiring lady !! * Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap ..
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Jade Butterfly
April 24, 2013 at 6:50 PM
AND National Team EVEN !!!!
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