South Korea’s Kim Ye-ji, who became known around the world for her confident style at the Paris Olympics, was hospitalised after fainting at a press conference, officials said on Friday.
Kim won the silver medal in the women’s 10-metre air pistol event, and her calm demeanour and distinctive look made her an online sensation, winning her praise from the likes of Elon Musk.
Kim collapsed during an interview in the south of the country and was taken to hospital in Jeonju. The authorities confirmed that she did not require any further treatment. According to her coach, Kwak Min-su, Kim had been suffering from accumulated fatigue since July due to her busy schedule.
A video of her, recorded during the World Championships in Baku, went viral, generating fan drawings, montages with K-pop music and memes about her unique ‘aura’. Although she was favourite to win gold in the 25-metre event, a mistake in the qualifying round, where she failed to shoot within the required time, prevented her from reaching the final. Kim apologised for her “big mistake” and for “disappointing” her fans.