Basketball Gold Medalist Lee Hyun-jung Visits Alma Mater: "Have Ridiculously Big Dreams"

"What I want to tell you is to have ridiculously big dreams. I hope you think, 'Why can't I do it?'"

At 11:00 a.m. today (23rd), as national basketball team player Lee Hyun-jung appeared at Samil Middle School in Paldal-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, students leaning out of the windows cheered loudly to welcome him.

Lee Hyun-jung returned in triumph to the school today after winning a basketball gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The school hallways were crowded with faculty members and students who came out to see Lee, and the player responded to every request for autographs and commemorative photos.
Having secured South Korea's first gold medal in 12 years by defeating Japan 67-57 in the Asian Games final, Lee returned to the country two days ago. Today, he visited Samil Middle School and Samil High School, where he spent five years as a player from his first year of middle school to his second year of high school.

Despite his busy schedule of leaving for the United States immediately on the 26th, right after Chuseok, he did not forget to visit his alma mater out of his immense affection for his junior peers.

Lee said, "I usually work out at the school often. It's because I think junior players might feel inspired if they see me working out."

On this day, he met separately with 18 basketball team students from Samil Middle School and encouraged them, saying, "Have big dreams."

In an interview held in the mixed zone immediately after the Asian Games final, Lee rated his own performance 70 to 80 out of 100.

Regarding this, coach Lee said, "I give him 100 points. I've trained many students while serving as a coach for 35 years. It's not because his skills alone make him the best, but rather in comprehensive terms, such as his mental strength and attitude toward basketball."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.