Once aspiring president, South Korean judoka embraces 1st Olympic medal

South Korean judoka Jeong Bo-kyeong once dreamed of becoming a president, for no other reason than that she wanted to be different from her friends.

Today, she may not be the president -- yet -- but she certainly is different from those around her.

She can call herself an Olympic medalist.

"Who knows, maybe this silver medal may help my presidential bid," Jeong quipped at a press conference for the Korean media at the Korea House, the main support center during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Jeong won silver in the women's -48kg on Saturday in her Olympic debut, and it was Korea's first medal in Rio.

The 25-year-old was overcome with emotion in the aftermath, saying she'd so desperately wanted to win the gold that she'd even dyed her hair in that color.

The following day, though, Jeong was back to her usual, ebullient self, as she talked about her childhood dream.

"In middle school, everyone else all had similar dreams," she said. "I said I wanted to become president because I wanted to have a special dream."

Jeong can boast at least some presidential connection -- she received congratulations from President Park Geun-hye after Saturday's match.

Jeong said her dream has since changed, and that it is to be wealthy enough to own a building someday.

She said she shed tears on Saturday because four years of preparations for Rio had come flooding back to her, but she regrets crying in front of the cameras.

"Now that I think about it, winning silver is still a great accomplishment," she said. "I'd promised myself I wouldn't cry even if I didn't win gold but I couldn't keep it. I am okay now."

She said she originally set out to compete in just one Olympics and win gold there, but after a close call, she said, "I'd like to get into another Olympics." (Yonhap)