Gifhorn. In 1988, Byong Chol Song became the first torch runner to carry the Olympic flame to Seoul. Now the ex-coach of SV Gifhorn receives the 9th Dan.
His name is inseparably linked to an incredibly successful judo period in Gifhorn: Byong Chol Song led the martial artists of SV Gifhorn as a coach in the 80s and 90s to a previously unknown level – crowned with numerous titles at higher levels. Now the 77-year-old, who now makes his home on the GC Gifhorn golf course, has been honored for his life’s work. With an award that has so far only been given to two other judoka in the whole of Northern Germany…
Only the third North German after Klaus Glahn and Ie So Chung
The Korean Judo Association awarded the Gifhorn native 9th Dan in 2019 for his life’s work. With the recognition of this graduation by the German Judo Federation, Byong Chol Song is now the third judoka in Northern Germany alongside Klaus Glahn, the 1972 Olympic silver medalist and four-time European champion from VfL Wolfsburg, and Ie So Chung, the honorary coach of VfL Wolfsburg with a Dan degree at this height.
The Lower Saxony Judo Association symbolically bowed in recognition to Byong Chol Song, whose commitment and judo knowledge has attracted attention beyond German borders, and presented him with the certificate at the NJV Association Day.
He turns his hobby into a profession
Byong Chol Song has lived in Germany since 1973, where he met his wife and started a family. Always connected to the sport of judo, he made it his career as a qualified sports teacher. He initially worked as a trainer in Klaus Glahn’s judo school, and in 1981 he finally took over the judo division of SV Gifhorn as a full-time trainer – and led it with great success for more than 20 years.
During this time, with his own style and humor, he shaped many young people not only into good judoka, but also into self-confident, responsible people in the spirit of judo values - until the Eyßelheider no longer extended the contract in 2002 for economic reasons.
Also in demand internationally as a referee
At the same time, Song quickly made a name for himself as a referee. First at the federal level and later also as a referee for the International Judo Federation. In this area too, he likes to pass on his competent knowledge, supports young talent and trains them to become successful judges. Hardly anyone else shows so much endurance on the edge of the mat and gives the active judges well-founded, mostly positively formulated feedback on their performance.
A highlight in Song’s career was the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul: the Gifhorn native was the first torch runner to have the honor of carrying the Olympic flame to Seoul.
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