Athlete criticizes coach for causing her pain, demands apology

Marathoner Lee Su-min, whose finish line moment went viral after she was seen grimacing and pushing away her coach, said Tuesday that his forceful physical contact caused pain.

“At the time, I was gasping for air and mentally overwhelmed, but soon someone suddenly grabbed me forcefully from the side. I felt intense pain in my chest and solar plexus. Even as I tried to pull away, his arm pressed so hard that I felt restrained,” she wrote on Instagram.

The 33-year-old marathoner from Samcheok City Hall’s track team finished the 42.195-kilometer course first in the women’s elite division with a time of 2 hours, 34 minutes and 41 seconds at the 2025 Incheon International Marathon held on Sunday.

When she reached the finish line, her coach, former marathoner Kim Won-ki, tried to drape a towel over her upper body. Grimacing, she pushed him away. The moment was captured on the live broadcast and quickly circulated online.

Her reaction prompted many online users to debate whether the coach’s actions could be considered standard post-race care for the athlete, with some arguing it could be seen as sexual harassment.

The marathoner, however, said the issue was not sexual harassment, but “excessive physical contact” that led her to be prescribed “two weeks of treatment for the pain and mental stress.”

“Right after the incident, I told him his forceful pull at the finish line caused me pain and that the behavior was inappropriate. Even though I apologized for the push, which might have made him uncomfortable, he offered no apology for his excessive grab," she said.

“Even after the video spread and the controversy grew, the coach never tried to speak with me,” she said.

Lee's comments came a day after Kim, the coach, spoke to the media, explaining that he was a standard post-race routine in marathon events, only meant to protect the athlete.
 

“Marathons can be extremely tough. If we don’t help (athletes) after the finish, they could fall and hurt themselves," he said in an interview with a local news outlet.
 

"To viewers, the scene of me holding her and her pulling away might be interpreted as inappropriate, but in our sport, this kind of situation happens all the time.”

 

source : https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10624250

Comprehension

Why did marathoner Lee Su-min say she pushed her coach at the finish line?
What kind of pain did Lee say she felt when the coach grabbed her?
What was Lee Su-min’s finishing time at the 2025 Incheon International Marathon?
What did the coach try to do when she reached the finish line?
What did some online users debate after watching the video?
Did Lee say the issue was sexual harassment? What did she say it was?
How long was Lee prescribed treatment for?
What was the coach’s explanation for his actions?

Discussion

inappropriate? Why?
Should coaches receive training on physical contact and boundaries with athletes?
Why do you think this incident became controversial online?
How should coaches support athletes immediately after a race?
What could the coach have done differently in this situation?
Do public reactions sometimes make situations more complicated? Explain.
How can athletes communicate their needs clearly during stressful physical situations?
Should sports organizations create rules about physical contact between coaches and athletes?
Do you think the coach should apologize? Why or why not?
How can misunderstandings like this be prevented in the future?

Vocabulary

Grimace – To make a facial expression showing pain or discomfort.
Forceful – Strong, aggressive, or done with power.
Solar plexus – The area in the upper stomach where pain can be very intense.
Restrain – To hold someone back or limit their movement.
Controversy – A public disagreement or heated discussion.
Prescribe – When a doctor officially recommends medicine or treatment.
Inappropriate – Not suitable or not proper for the situation.
Routine – A regular way of doing things; a usual practice.