Korean marathon hero retires after farewell race

DAEJEON, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean marathon hero Lee Bong-ju, who
announced his retirement decision in March, capped his 20-year career by winning
his 41st full course race on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old Lee, who captured a silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and
won the Boston Marathon in 2001, completed his last 42.195km race with a time of
2:15:25 at the National Athletic Meet in Daejeon, about 150km south of Seoul,
organizers said.
At the annual national sports festival that kicked off on Tuesday with over 2,400
athletes attending, Lee competed for South Chungcheong Province, following his
wish to run the farewell race for his hometown.
Lee, who holds South Korea's marathon record of 2:07:20 set in Tokyo in 2000,
became the nation's first marathoner to complete over 40 full-course races. He
announced his decision to retire in mid-March.
"After finishing the last race, I feel as if I have laid down a big burden," Lee
said after the race. "I have no regret in today's race, regardless of the record.
I did my best," said Lee, who debuted as a full-time marathoner in 1990 at a
national sports event.
Asked to pick the most memorable moment in his career, Lee recalled the Atlanta
Olympics when he missed the gold medal by three seconds.
"Looking back on my life, I miss it the most," he said.
"I have no plan for now. I'll think about it while taking a rest," Lee said,
leaving the stadium after hugging his wife and two sons.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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