Olympic Diving Tickets: South Korean diver Kim Yeong-nam took home-based silver at the 2026 Asian Games after completing a life-changing 20-month obligatory military duty as a public caretaker. Working with incapacitated people taught him great endurance, emotional control, and better messaging skills. Reinvigorated by his new mental adulthood and solo training, he now plans to qualify for the LA28 Olympics together with his younger brother.
How Tokyo Olympic Pressure Left Him Chasing Results Over Technique
When Kim Yeong-nam stepped into the pool for the men’s diving 1m springboard final at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, he did so like a man reborn. While he had stood on the podium five times before at the Asian Games, this time felt different. There was a confidence about the way he moved around the pool and an ease with which he handled his diving career.
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I competed feeling I had a real chance. So, I prepared with that in mind, said the first Republic of Korea diver to win a silver medal in the 1m springboard at the Asian Games since Beijing 1990. I think I aimed my goals a little higher because I was trying to get first place. I thought that even if I failed to win, I could still finish second or third, he said during an exclusive interview with Olympics.
So, I started the whole event with the mindset of aiming for gold, while knowing that a podium finish was within my reach. The diver, once known for having fast mood swings, had become far more kind and patient. He believes eighteen months of mandatory social service was the main cause. I feel like this is a fresh start, said the thirty-year-old Olympian from Jeju Island.
Military Service Brought a New Start on Jeju Island Caring for Others
After finishing up my required military service as a social service worker, people often told me I had become much more relaxed and easygoing. They said that even in situations that used to make me angry in the past, I no longer reacted that way, and that I seemed a lot calmer overall. After finishing seventh and 28th at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Kim gave in to self-created pressure. He was focusing mainly on results, rather than technical proficiency.
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That trend might have kept going had he been able to delay his required military service again ahead of Paris 2024. As it happened, he was not given another delay, a choice that offered him a much-needed chance to restart. He was helped by the support of his teammates and coaches. Kim completed his service as a social welfare specialist at a facility for people with physical disabilities on Jeju Island from April 2024 to December 2025.
With so many people believing in my skills and encouraging me to give it one more try. I decided to change my registered address to Jeju and do my public service there so I could continue training and work toward my goal of competing again, he continued. Kim didn’t know what to expect as he started working as a caretaker.
Learning Patience and Communication While Caring for Disabled People
It felt like stepping into an entirely different world, he told Olympics. I had spent my whole life in sports and had never really been exposed to anything of this kind before. In a school-like environment, Kim helped and took care of people with various disabilities, including those with severe physical and intellectual disabilities.
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Honestly, the work itself was far less physical than training, said the experienced diver accustomed to challenging practice sessions in the pool. But since it meant working with people in a way I was not used to, and it was all new to me, I found certain parts of it hard. Kim confessed that he didn’t know how to communicate with the kids at first due to their speech impairments.
I would try to squeeze in 15 to 30 minutes as quickly as possible, then set up my tablet by the pool and start practising my dives. Things were further made difficult by the potentially dangerous nature of the sport and the lack of constant feedback from a coach. Even with my tablet set up to record my dives, I could not try everything I wanted because of the risks.
Training Alone by the Pool with a Tablet and Very Little Coaching Help
If I got injured, nobody would be there to help me, said Kim. Getting ready for competitions under those circumstances proved to be very challenging. That solitude, however, did bring a nice silver lining. I think the experience taught me to treat every single dive with greater focus and careful thought, he said. I became more aware of how much concentration each one required. Read more about Olympic Diving Tickets.
Reinvigorated by his time as a caretaker, Kim is ready to reach the LA28 Olympic Games. With a twist, he is competing in synchronized diving with his younger brother, Yeong-taek. Kim feels their strong brotherly bond, combined with his new communication skill set, might give them the edge when it comes to qualification.
During training, we talk in great detail about our technique. If there’s a particular movement I am good at or feel confident about, I might say, ‘Okay, I’ll adjust to match you on this one,’ or ‘I’ll try to match your footwork more closely this time.’ We’re constantly making small changes for each other, he said. It does not matter if one person executes a dive perfectly and the other makes a mistake.
Teaming Up with His Younger Brother in Pursuit of a Place at LA28
You’re competing as a team, so if one person gets it wrong, you have both failed. In many ways, the same applies to caretaking work. Some of the children could get agitated, and I was taught that if I got worked up too, it would only make them more distressed and the situation could spiral out of control. So, I needed to remain calm and patiently wait for them to let out their feelings.
In that regard, caretaking might be the key to his success if he wins a medal at LA 2028. I learned so much about caring for others with kindness and understanding, and about responding to all kinds of situations, he concluded. I feel confident I could apply these skills if someone close to me ever needed my help now, especially since we are living in an aging society.
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Which medal did Kim Yeong-nam win in the 1m springboard at the 2026 Asian Games?
Kim Yeong-nam won silver today. He competed in 1m springboard diving. The event was held at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games.
Where did Kim Yeong-nam complete his mandatory military service as a social welfare worker?
He served at a local center. Helped people living with physical disabilities. The facility was located on Jeju Island.
How did Kim Yeong-nam practice his diving while completing his social service work?
He set a tablet near the pool. Recorded and reviewed his own dives. Practiced in brief 15–30-minute slots.
Which events did Kim Yeong-nam compete in at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games?
Kim Yeong-nam joined two main events. Competed in the men’s 3m springboard diving. Also entered the 10m platform at Tokyo 2020.
Who does Kim Yeong-nam plan to partner with for synchronized diving at the LA28 Olympics?
He plans to team up soon. Partners with his younger brother, Kim Yeong-taek. They will compete together in synchronized diving at LA28.