Go to the start.
Ready.
The short track national athlete selections are
a mini Olympic.
Over 100 skaters from all across the country,
starting from the 1st round to the finals,
500m, 1000m,
1500m, 3000m
partake in 12 races.
Only 20 pass the 1st round.
The same process repeats in round 2
and only 6 make it out alive.
6 out of 100.
Only 6 out of 100 can smile.
No matter what happens.
I will never lose to you, Cha Ga-eul.
I must win, no matter what.
Where had it all gone wrong?
But what I prayed to the universe for
wasn't for the elk to rest in peace.
Since I'd done something good
so they should reward me with luck.
To save me from my misery.
That bitch.
I must be being punished.
Excuse me… You need to take this.
Is this not yours?
Ah, yes. Thank you.
I shouldn't have forgotten my cane…
I thought for a moment…
Hey, Mu-tae.
I saw it on TV. Where are you?
At the emergency room.
Why?
She's okay.
If it had struck any higher, it could've struck an artery.
That would've been very bad.
Luckily, you'll only be needing 12 stitches.
Skater Cha, you're very lucky.
Me? I'm lucky?
Of course you are. Buddha saved you.
Please patch it up nicely, doctor.
She has a competition the day after tomorrow…
Mom!
We'll get a full body scan.
Hm, here. That's from a past injury.
Yes.
There seem to be no huge issues.
You're sure?
She's going to be a national athlete.
According to the MRI, there aren't any issues.
There could be muscle pain due to impact, however.
But…
Ah, damn it!
Cha Ga-eul, that brat.
Mom, that's not what's important right now.
Thighs are important to a short track skater.
So we should get treatment immediately.
Hey, Cha Ga-eul!
Our Sun-ah got hurt because you blocked her way!
She wasn't blocking her!
Oh Sun-ah pulled a foul first by impeding.
Impeding? What are you? A coach? Huh?
She was clearly blocking the way.
Oh my, our Coach Oh. We haven't seen you in a while…
Why am I your coach?
Who turned their back on who first?
Hey, Cha Ga-eul,
are you trying to sabotage?
Why did you have to fall in front of our Sun-ah?
Don't you know she has to win gold at the Olympics?
What?! Just because we let you keep talking…
Can't you see that she's all bloodied up?
Hey, hey, hey, Mu-tae stop it.
Let go. Don't do it. Don't do it.
There's no reason to be angry.
He was like that too, when I fell once.
He's just protecting his athletes.
A few stitches should fix you right up.
That much shouldn't hurt your career.
Take a month or two off.
Damn it.
Well, let's first move this to an operating room.
Just do it here. I don't need anesthetics.
Wait, what… This… Without anesthetics?
Hey, what are you saying? No, get anesthetics and…
The competition is a day after tomorrow.
I can't get anesthetics. I'll be accused of doping.
I'm proud of you, my daughter.
Bite down hard and hold on a bit.
Back in my day, people gave birth without anesthetics.
If they could withstand it, you could.
Don't worry mom.
It's okay.
I know what she means.
I feared losing more
than getting stitches without anesthetics.
A sense of defeat. Frustration.
Those things hurt more back then.
I felt so sorry to my parents.
I worried I couldn't compete the next day.
I couldn't think about anything else.
But you can't let that go on for long.
If you do, the yips will get worse.
But are there any athletes, that don't feel that way?
Why just our Ga-eul…
Why just me?
Everyone else endures it well enough.
I'm the only one so week.
Those are the thoughts that bring on yips.
And it makes it worse.
Our Ga-eul is strong
so she'll overcome this.
Today
I lost a client of mine.
Huh?
I thought she was overcoming it well.
But I think I was avoiding the truth.
Because I knew too well
how much it hurts.
If I thought about it more,
it would hurt too much.
So I think that's why I believed
what was comfortable for me.
Would you be okay
if it was someone like me?
Thank you Gil.
Professional basketball player, Oh Yeon-ji
made a drastic decision at her place of residence.
Oh Yeon-ji, point guard for Sang-un Construction,
struggled regularly with poor grades and hate comments,
according to the league, who revealed this heartbreaking news.
In a reality where, if there arises an issue
they can be covered up as long as players have good grades,
younger players can't help but experience
shame and mental breakdowns.
Come up with countermeasures before the reporters come in.
With all due respect sir,
I think right now fact-checking and sending condolences first…
How badly has the psychological support team
been taking care of the athletes that…
The professional league is not under our care.
Didn't you tell us to prioritize the top 1%
from the athlete's village and those with medals
in our caretaking strategies?
Don't they select national athletes from
the professional level as well?
There are over 1000 athletes that enter the village.
And there are only 3 permanent members of the psychological team.
- With this structure… - Wait!
What was the human rights center doing?
Is the human rights center a department for student guidance?
We only have 3 members as well.
The athlete didn't file a report there, did she?
- No. - Are you sure?
If it comes out later,
the reporters will hound us like bees.
Most of the reports are from the ice rink.
So what are we going to do?
- Recruit another member… - Recruit another member…
Re… Recruit another member?
- Yes, recruit another member. - Yes, recruit another member.
Yes.
What are we going to solve by recruiting another mental coach?
We're saying we should at least pretend to do something.
We do have to respond to the controversy.
The boss is going to leave it to us anyway.
Why is he recruiting someone for the human rights center?
That way the association can do something.
They'll need to reshape the media narrative.
Anyway, I've never seen them do anything by the book.
Ah, I'm hungry.
Me, too. Shall we get something?
Ah, there's a place I saw earlier.
The next upcoming competition is on the ice right?
Yes, it'll be the winter Olympics soon.
Right now, they are recruiting national athletes.
Pick only the ones that could actually medal.
If we win a medal, we can cover up all this noise.
Yes, of course.
Ah, sir, why don't we grab some sashimi before you head back?
Hey, since we're adding another person to your team,
try to control you team a bit better, Professor Gu.
And pay condolences as the representative, huh?
Yes, will do.
What sashimi is good these days?
Recently, a yellow tail this big has come in.
Yellow tail!
So you want me to hold all the hot potatoes?
These people are all just talk.
I'm sick of it.
Director of the human rights center…
Then, you must have received the report on Oh Yeon-ji.
What report?
The reason why Oh Yeon-ji chose to make this drastic choice
was not simply because of bad grades or hate comments.
There was deliberate bullying and exclusion within the team.
She was also excluded from games.
Hey, Jegal,
what grounds do you have to say those things?
I was the last person to offer Oh Yeon-ji psychological counsel.
Oh really?
She said those things?
Yes.
She was thinking about retiring as a result
and was recommended to get the counsel from
the human rights center.
If the coach was deliberately excluding her from matches…
Hey, even so that should be left at the director's discretion.
You know it's not the kind of compassionate place that would
carry with them a sluggish player.
That's the world of pros, isn't it?
What I'm saying is
if you had received a report it should have been investigated…
- We didn't receive one. - You didn't?
No. There wasn't one.
Hypothetically,
even if it's one out of a million, if you received a report and
didn't do anything about it...
If we didn't do anything about it?
If we didn't then what are you going to do? Huh?
Hey, Jegal.
No, Gil…
We can't save all the people in the world.
Not you, not me, not any one.
I'm tired on days like this too, okay?
I hate the world, too.
- Yes, director. - What I ordered?
Yes, we're taking care of it right now.
When it’s...
Always just hangs up after he says what he needs to.
Did you really destroy all of Oh Yeon-ji's files?
Of course, I did. Would I just pretend to?
- What about the announcement? - I posted it.
No, I won't do it.
Let's just do it once.
You're not normal right now.
If I'm not normal, then am I insane?
You know that's not what I'm saying Ga-eul.
If you were at your usual skill level,
would it make sense for you to score zero points at the trial?
There's still the 1000m and 3000m left.
I can redeem myself.
That's why I want you to do this.
People who play sports…
If you play sports, you'll hit a slump at least once.
If you can't get over it,
your life will end there, like me or dad.
If you do overcome it,
then you'll grow to a higher level.
Moving further up.
Yes?
Oh, you're here? Come sit.
Come sit here.
What do we do first?
I have to get to practice soon. Tomorrow's the competition.
We'll start with giving up on the competition.
What?
I inquired about it and the rest of the race includes
the 1000m and the super final 3000m.
If you want to enter the final, you need at least a total of 10 points
and make it in the final top 8.
Right now, skater Cha Ga-eul has zero points.
Unless you skate the best race of your lifetime at the 1000m,
it will be impossible for you to move forward to the finals.
I think you with your leg injury, the best race of your lifetime
might be a bit of a reach.
There are skaters who won gold medals at the Olympics
with worse ankle injuries.
Is this the Olympics?
Our country's short track national trials are just as
important as the Olympics.
But they don't give gold medals.
Why do you keep speaking to me informally?
I also used to be a national level athlete.
I'm very much your senior.
I know you to be expelled from the sports world.
Yes. You're quite sharp.
Anyway, that gold medal? It's important for sure.
But these are just the trials, no?
Rather than you overworking this leg and never being able to win a medal,
it's better to plan for next time.
Frogs, in order to jump further, curl up for a moment…
- Talking about frogs, my ass. - Fr… Fro…
Are you underestimating frogs right now?
Cha Ga-eul, frogs jump very far!
Cha Ga-eul! Wait!
Cha Ga-eul!
What were you thinking about when you were racing?
I wasn't thinking anything.
I don't think this could've happened if you weren't thinking anything.
You're a skater who could do well without
going through all this trouble, Sun-ah.
Don't get arrogant, Oh Sun-ah.
If Cha Ga-eul skates at her proper level,
you're dead meat.
I was already having a hard time when coach kept…
Let's at least walk together, Cha Ga-eul.
Why are you walking so fast?
Don't you have any compassion? I am an injured person!
Cha Ga-eul!
Cha Ga-eul, can't you hear me?
I am someone with an injured leg.
Would a sane doctor send someone with an injured leg
to a psychologist?
Why was I sent here?
Yap!
Fine, I'm crazy.
I've gone insane.
Are you happy? Are you satisfied?
Is that it?
This is obviously a medical accident.
They must've injected something during the surgery.
Should I tell the media?
Should I let this hospital fall to ruins?
Should I make it so you can't ever be a doctor again?
It hurts so much, doctor.
It feels like my ligament is being torn
and my bones are crumbling. It hurts so much.
I'm in so much pain. Give me some medication.
As I've told you before,
psychological pain cannot be treated by medication alone.
All of the emotions and thoughts that ran through your mind
during the incident need to be shared with me…
I told you everything!
I've been telling you everything!
Not in this avoidant way!
Take this seriously and let your inner…
Go dig up ear wax!
Get out of my sight!
That is him, that rude patient.
Cha Ga-eul! Can you not hear me?
Should I clean your ears for you? Should I pick out some ear wax?
Cha Ga-eul!
Hey, Mu-tae's little sister!
I don't need counseling.
I'm telling you I won't do it. So why are you like this?
You are in a pretty dangerous mental strength right now.
You don't even feel pain getting stitches without anesthetics?
You don't see the people who are worried about you?
You keep arguing that you'll compete with that leg.
Your capacity for judgment is completely compromised.
Much like someone in the past?
Much like someone in the past… Wait, what?
I've lived long enough to see you again, Jegal Gil.
She is the woman who knows all of my vulnerabilities
and my dark history.
Shit.
Coach Oh!
Now that things are this way,
please just put your faith in Ji-young!
Of course, Ji-young is great too but
Oh Sun-ah is still our ace.
- Please get home safely. - Our Ji-young!
You saw the way she skated past 1st place in a situation like that.
What are you doing?
Go and show him you're better than Sun-ah.
Okay, mom.
Coach! Coach Oh!
So you became a mental coach?
A mental coach?
I guess as I was receiving treatment
I realized something.
That I wasn't the only one who was hurting.
That we are all hurting.
Ah. That this is what they call a blue ocean…
Blue ocean.
But for you to be unable to overcome your own psychogenic disorder
and be coaching the minds of other athletes is a bit…
Ironic.
Well, isn't that just what life is?
I'm trying to be a wounded healer.
But Doctor Park, what brings you here?
I quit working at the hospital. Thanks to someone.
Who?
Ahhh! That chief with the terrible personality?
Hey, Cha Ga-eul!
Do you think I did it on purpose?
I've never said that.
You're looking at me as if you do.
Let's not fight amongst ourselves.
You started it
and now you want to pretend to be nice
saying we shouldn't fight amongst ourselves?
You're the one who started it.
You're the one who came into my spot first.
Hey, Oh Sun-ah, I get why you would be like this
but there's no need.
When you compete, you could impede or get injured or injure someone…
It wasn't impeding.
- The verdict came out. - What?
Is that the kind of stuff you do now?
Oh Sun-ah!
What are you two doing?
Listen here, Jegal Gil.
Whether it be mentality or skill,
the only one who gets to teach in my ice rink
is me, Oh Dal-sung.
But why is this your rink?
Does that dean know
that you have monopoly on this rink?
This is the kind of stuff that should be in the papers!
What I'm saying is…
If there are several coaches, it causes a disturbance to the kids.
Then, why is Dr. Park here?
Me…
Dr. Park is the mental coach of a national athlete.
I am also a mental coach who used to be a national athlete!
Not someone who used to be…
Hey, what kind of athlete doesn't take time to heal?
Did I not tell you you should rest for two months?
You did.
Let's go.
Hey, Coach Cho.
Are you going to let an injured kid roam around like this?
Did I teach you to be this way?
Come here and take your kid with you.
Oh Dal-sung.
W… What?
Thank you.
What?
It seems you're avoiding your problems, not me.
I'm not avoiding you. It's just no use talking to you.
Do you know why it's no use?
Because you believe it would be no use.
This is reality.
Here, the athletes who don't have lines and can't score
aren't listened to.
If that's reality, you should be fighting it.
Even if it's impossible, you should be doing all you can
to protect yourself.
You don't cry, even when your skin's being stitched up.
You don't feel upset at your mom, who seems to think nothing of it.
You don't get angry even when a friend slaps you for no reason.
You accept being kicked out of the training facilities.
Why?
Because you're someone they can do that to.
First, it's your leg.
Later, it'll be your ankle, waist, knee, shoulder, hip joint…
You'll have to give them all of it
if winning is the only way you'll be respected.
Who drives you so mercilessly?
Oh Sun-ah, is that all you can skate?
That's why you fall behind Cha Ga-eul.
Cho Ji-young!
You're losing your mind over accidentally winning 1st, right?
This is your real skill level.
Oh Sun-ah, take off your skates, huh?
If you're going to skate like this, don't skate at all.
Go, you brat.
Coach Oh,
with all due respect, Sun-ah is not in a great mental state right now.
Rather than berating her…
Dr. Park,
even if you're from Dr. Song's team,
you cannot enter training grounds if you're going to be like this.
What are you doing still in the rink?!
Look here.
When everyone goes toward the in course,
only you move outwards, right?
My specialty is out course.
You're not just avoiding conflict?
In course out course is meant to change strategically
depending on the situation, okay?
What about this?
Is this a situation in which in course is useful or out course?
Look closely. Is it in or out?
- In. - Okay, you were in first.
Then, Oh Sun-ah came in because there was a gap.
Why did you try to avoid it?
I don't know either.
What were you thinking then?
What are you thinking now?
Athletes are destined for injuries.
You can get injured while competing
or you can injure…
Were you scared of hurting Sun-ah like you did Ji-young?
According to your brother, your yips seem to have started then.
All athletes experience this.
If I can't overcome something like this,
I should just quit.
Stop avoiding.
Tomorrow is the race.
- I have to train. - Your stitches will come out.
Why does that matter anyway?!
I told you, I'm not doing this!
I hate things like this!
You like winning right?
If you want to compete tomorrow, win me over.
I'm going to make you give up the race.
You try to make me give up, too. Okay?
There's not even a plot.
The title is what sold it.
What? He wrote about me too?
She was more of a recent college grad
than a psychologist.
Every morning, she let off the scent of her shampoo
and stopped by my room with smiles to start a conversation.
Jegal Gil, did you sleep well?
Do you think I slept well?
My leg hurts like it's about to fall off.
Give me some medicine.
Do you remember how you got here last night?
Help! Help! He just attempted suicide!
He drank a ton and took a ton of pills.
This way!
What kind of pills did he take?
From cold medicine, anti-diarrheal pills,
migraine medicine to pain killers…
I think he took everything in the house.
He took it all!
First, lay him down this way.
Gil!
Gil! Don't die! You can't die!
Dr. Kim,
please prepare the IV and the vitals.
You bastard, why did you take so many…
She had just taken off her intern badge.
She was a new doctor, overflowing with a sense of duty.
They say I was her first patient.
Ah darn it…
Is your stomach hurting a lot?
I mean if… You're not going to give me medication
discharge me at least!
Am I crazy?
Am I insane?
Why do you treat me like I'm crazy!
Huh? Are these iron bars? Those iron bars?
- Well, those… - Let me out! Let me out!
Let me out!
I'm going to get out of here!
Being alive felt shameful
and back then, I wanted to end everything.
Looking back,
that woman was always there.
That woman?
Ah, what does he think a doctor is?
When I think about how I was reprimanded because of you…
You were, not a man nor a patient,
but truly the worst case scenario!
My goodness.
Hey, I'm almost there.
Who's there?
Let's just do what we prepared
like we've always done it.
Okay.
You are a good friend of my brother's, right?
Terrifyingly.
Who's terrifying?
No, I'm saying we're terrifyingly close.
Where are you going?
We're almost there!
Follow me!
Hey, I told you not to turn off the light!
I'm here.
Why did you turn off the lights? I told you not to turn off the lights!
Huh?
Is this some weird kind of place?
Where are you? Huh?
I'm leaving.
You're here, son?
Dad, I told you not to turn off the lights.
This is my dad.
Wow, look at how firm these are.
That's not good!
No, I'm saying we're terrifyingly close.
She got 12 stitches yesterday.
This shouldn't be like that.
There aren't like side effects, right?
My goodness.
If there were would he be alive right now?
I was the test guinea pig for that.
After I became this way, my dad
went all across the country learning how to do this.
It helped everyone but me.
It may look like this but a lot of pros come by.
It's just not legal.
What does it matter if I help everyone else?
I can't even help my own son.
It's become my unfinished business
so now I can't even die if I tried.
My goodness, from centipedes to snakes to scorpions…
It's because you eat just about everything that's good for the body.
But
what is your relationship to our Gil?
Sorry?
Seriously?
Gosh, don't worry about him.
Where else are you going?
You're not going somewhere weird, are you?
Full of suspicion, and a pretty bad victim complex.
If you don't tell me where we're going, I'm not going.
Gosh, we're here. Okay?
Just climb up a few steps and you'll know.
That hot temper of yours…
Come quickly!
What kind of place is this?
A place I don't just bring anyone to.
Hey, Gil.
Hey.
Gil!
I missed you.
Let's see how much bigger our Soo-ji has gotten.
- Why? Why? Why? - Ouch, my shoulder!
Gosh, I told you to be careful.
Ah, how annoying.
Why are you staring? Is this the first time
seeing someone with a dislocated shoulder?
You're doing it again.
Hey, hey, hey! Kids, gather around!
Say hello.
This is Cha Ga-eul,
your junior.
Wrestling, Yeo Sang-goo.
I'm not in the mob.
I got these to hide where I got stitches and scars.
This, I can't cover.
They call me shooter Pistol Park.
Roar.
Get rid of your prejudice that all must have two eyes, missy.
She seems to have loads of prejudices.
Stop it, Soo-ji.
For me, gymnastics.
Habitual shoulder dislocation and anorexia.
Hi! For me, swimming.
This is atopic eczema.
Nope, actually it's a fungal infection.
Actually, it's chronic eczema.
Okay, okay. Got it. That's enough. Scatter now.
Have fun on your own.
You're quite startled, right?
I am Gil's mentor in taekwondo, as well as his savior.
- The name is Oh Bok-tae... - Let's play, let's play.
Wait, why can't I introduce myself?
Even if they look like this, they all used to be national athletes.
Of course, even though they are all "no-medals."
Our sales double on rainy days.
Why? Because there's not a spot that doesn't hurt.
They've had enough medicine for a lifetime
so they're now looking for alcohol.
Sit.
Drinking together can be of comfort
and a source of group therapy.
- Gil is here. - Okay.
- Your usual? - Yeah.
But he brought a girl.
She must be like you.
Here.
I can tell why you brought me here.
"This is your future."
I regret not stopping then.
If I could have,
I wouldn't live as only half of the man I used to be.
I think you chose to live like a half of yourself.
Psychogenic disorder? Isn't that just pretend?
It's different.
The real name of my condition is body conversion disorder.
You've heard of PTSD, right?
After a big accident or an injury,
without any special reason there is persistent pain,
or in the case of athletes, a decline in performance.
Well, yips is similar.
You really are insisting it's yips.
If it happened after the incident with Ji-young,
it could be PTSD.
Can you tell me how you were feeling during the accident?
Notably?
If you repress emotions, it gets stored in your muscles.
Your muscles will harden and contract during the race.
What is the emotion you're repressing then?
I'm the therapist.
- I never asked you to therapize me. - Your brother did.
There are very few patients that find me on their own.
Patient? Am I mentally ill?
Intense defense mechanism.
What have you been writing?
I was just like you.
It's like I'm looking at myself from 10 years ago.
I'm not.
If you're not, then try to cooperate?
It's not just because of that accident…
Then what?
I don't know either
why I became this way
or where it all went wrong.
Lower, lower.
When I was 9, after I joined the rink
the first thing I learned was how to fall
and fall
and fall again.
Again.
Don't be a baby. Get up.
He said it was training to get rid of
my fear of injuring myself.
Even after proper training began, I kept falling.
It was normal to get bruised.
Straining or breaking something
was like nothing at all.
All the other older girls were like that, too.
In sophomore year of high school, I fell with Sun-ah
and was run over and had my hip dislocated.
I've had my front tooth knocked out by Ji-young's skate.
My toenails always bothered me so
they've fallen off and regrown many times.
The day I won gold at the World Championships,
I came out of the shower and saw that I was covered with wounds.
That was the first time
I felt sorry for myself.
Cha Ga-eul, you really worked hard to get here.
All athletes are like that, though.
Is there anyone who doesn't struggle to live?
Ah, here he is.
The person that decided not to work hard.
You got here well, okay?
Proud of you.
Anyway,
getting hurt was my daily reality.
Ji-young's accident as well.
That's what our job's just like.
Yeah, it's all like that. Everyone's like that.
You're not the only one in pain. Don't make a scene.
Those words, if you think about it,
are pretty violent.
To yourself, who worked hard all this time,
stop scolding
and try staying still.
If you want to try again, right now…
Is that your conclusion again?
It'll be too much with that leg.
Even if you do achieve something,
you might end up with permanent damage.
All national athletes hear that at least once or twice.
Still, no national athlete gives up.
Oh.
Go Young-toe.
You've heard of him, right? Former skater.
In the middle of a race, an opponent skater's blade
cut through his inner thigh.
An artery and vein were cut
and because surgery was too late his leg underwent necrosis
so below his left knee…
"So you'll end up just like him."
Are you cursing me? Threatening me?
What kind of therapy is this? This is a threat.
I'm sorry if you felt as though it was a threat.
Is being sorry all there is?
Tomorrow is my race.
You've shaken up my feelings.
You've scared me.
Do you think I'm not scared?
I am scared.
I'm terrified.
What do you want me to do?
That's it.
That's how you do it.
Let it come out. Don't repress it.
You let it out. That's how you fight it.
All the fear inside of you.
If you move one step, it'll come in on two feet.
At any given moment,
you have to protect yourself first.
Right now, giving up is
how you protect yourself.
You're a quack.
I don't think she'll give up.
Right?
If you could go back in time, what would you give up?
Me back then or me now?
You back then.
Let's get inside.
What about this?
I ordered another soju earlier!
Ah, yes. You can drink this one.
- Another soju please! - Ah, yes.
Sorry, sorry.
Ah, yes, I'll get you a bottle!
Are you okay?
I'm sorry.
- Another soju here quickly please! - Yes, yes.
My bag…
How could I forget my feet?
Ugh, seriously.
The reason why I cried
was not because I felt bad for my mom.
I kept thinking of
my own future.
Evil bitch.
There is no doubt, I'm being punished.
Right now, giving up is
protecting yourself.
One, two, three.
Hey! How could you do that! Seriously!
No, you seriously did it like that.
If you're so worried, get it to her.
No, it's all for the best.
The athlete most likely to win gold is Oh Sun-ah.
Isn't she out because of her injury?
We got her checked out at hospital.
They say there are no particular issues.
What about…
That Cho Ji-young?
The one that got 1st in the 1500m.
Please look after her.
Well, I mean… Sure.
Here.
She seems just as good as Oh Sun-ah.
Ah… Ji-young is good, too.
But her mentality is fragile.
She tends to have a hard time at the international competitions.
- Mentality? - Yes.
Oh… Really?
But the election is so soon…
We have to choose one that can medal no matter what.
Let's go by records. 1st place in total points.
Let's back her.
- Here's some tea. - Thank you.
- How about Cha Ga-eul? - Not yet.
I think it's best she gives up on this race.
Of course.
Protecting an athlete is also a coach's responsibility.
So who's the next one to look out for?
Park Ji-soo. She's quite good.
That wouldn't be a bad learning experience.
Then, Park Ji-soo and our Kim Moo-young…
Ah, that toxic persisent…
This is why I'm saying she can't make it.
A kid like that, even if she becomes a national athlete,
isn't going to listen to her coach and cause trouble.
Coach Cho, let's cooperate.
Yes, sir.
I think this is overkill… Giving up is…
My contract expires this year.
If I don't medal this year, are you going to sign me again?
Your career as an athlete is on the line here.
If I don't make national athlete this year
no other places are going to call me.
Either way, my career's over.
Ga-eul, you currently have 0 points.
It's an automatic disqualification if you don't get
at least 2nd place in the 1000m.
At least 3 players from the university
will go onto the finals no matter what.
Is that a plan?
In order for me to protect an athlete,
I can also force you to quit.
Try it then.
I won't just sit here and take it.
I'll let everyone know about the strategies
and we can die together.
What? This time I'm supposed to be the ace.
Who said that? You would be this ace?
Mom…
So far I'm 1st place in points.
- According to skills… - Skills…
It's skill if I acknowledge it as the coach.
Cho Ji-young?
Yes.
It’s not because I raised her
but Oh Sun-ah does better in international competitions.
What does he know? He wasn't even an athlete.
Go by your gut, Coach Oh.
But since the chairman is so tied to the league…
How long is he going to be chairman anyway?
There's a lot of people who don't like him
since he has a corporate background.
Then, I will trust in you, professor.
Please go ahead.
Oh Sun-ah, you know you're behind in points, right?
Yes.
You have to get 1st place in 1000m
to ensure your place in the Olympics.
I understand.
If you let Cha Ga-eul pass you this time
you'll really have done it.
If you can't do it, just fall.
Yes, sir.
You continue taking lead as second.
Coach…
How dare you glare at me?
Cho Ji-young,
don't get greedy.
Do you understand me?
Yes.
- Oh he's here, he's here! - He's arrived!
Congressman, thank you for making time to come this way.
Thank you.
We’re choosing our national representative.
It's a special event. Of course, I have to come out.
Dear, come in after you share a few words.
Yes.
Congressman, please say a few words.
Uhm…
They say that elite atheletics have reached a limit these days.
Welcome, Lady Hong!
I told you to call me Seung-min's mom
at unofficial events like these.
Oh, you're so humble!
This is Professor Gu Tae-man from Haneol Sports University.
I know. He's an Olympic gold medalist!
Hello, I'm Seung-min's mother.
My son does taekwondo as well.
Nice to meet you, Lady Hong.
We need to no longer be corporation-centered
but instead, athlete centered,
I believe that we need to create a sports culture
more people can enjoy.
Don't come today. That goes for your mom as well.
But how could I…
If you have left it to me, I would appreciate some cooperation,
Ga-eul's brother.
What brings you here again?
What? I can't come see a race?
Not that you can't but…
If you tresspass, things will become very complicated.
What kind of a person do you think I am?
Why would I break in to an arena?
I don't know. I wonder why I feel this way?
Just watch the race nicely.
This is the National Short Track Trials
Women's 1000m race.
Go to the start.
Ready.
If you move one step, it'll come in on two feet.
At any given moment,
you have to protect yourself first.
Oh Sun-ah,
you have to get 1st place in 1000m to ensure your place
in the Olympics.
Ji-young, your mom will always have your back
so don't you worry and go stand in the front.
Only in the front.
Get rid of Cha Ga-eul.
If things go a little wrong, then just fall.
If you can't do it, just fall.
Athletes, get ready.
And they're off.
Cho Ji-young is starting off in first.
Yes, and following her are Oh Sun-ah and Mo Ah-reum.
Kim Moo-young and Cha Ga-eul follow behind.
Though she was injured, Cha Ga-eul has decided
to partake in the race today.
Give me my skates.
Though he looks like this, he's actually
the person who used to take care of all the national level kids' skates.
The legendary sharpener.
In, out… Which course do you prefer?
Out course is my strength…
Then, you'll check with the out course.
Make it in course.
Not too tight and not too loose.
Not too nervous yet not too confident.
They call that the zone.
The most comfortable level of strength.
If you go toward in course, the risk of collision is higher.
Are you willing to become injured?
No, injuries scare me too.
- I don't want to get hurt. - That's it.
You don't repress your fears. You admit them.
You admit them and proceed.
You find your own way.
She's slowly moving forward.
Cha Ga-eul is pushing forward.
She passes Kim Moo-young by going in course.
She passes her.
It's in course again.
She does not leave any gaps.
As soon as I speak, she goes in again.
Cha Ga-eul is coming in fast.
Cha Ga-eul now passes Mo Ah-reum in the blink of an eye.
This is Cha Ga-eul's strength.
She is great with both in and out course.
Cha Ga-eul races well, as if she'd never been injured.
How incredible!
In a blink of an eye, Cha Ga-eul has reached third place.
She's following close behind Oh Sun-ah.
Current first place is Cho Ji-young.
She is waiting for a moment to pass Oh Sun-ah.
As Cho Ji-young has been racing first this entire time
she cannot help but to lose stamina.
They are waiting for this moment.
But Cho Ji-young will not easily give them the chance.
- What are you doing? - A fight is happening
- Get out of there! - on the rink.
No, I'm going to be greedy.
Why am I always the shadow?
I'm better.
What has happened?
Oh Sun-ah and Cho Ji-young have fallen at the same time.
I spoke earlier about needing to be wary of a situation like this.
- Damn it! - Now, not missing this opportunity,
Cha Ga-eul pushes in course in a heartbeat.
The rankings are changing.
Cha Ga-eul is currently first.
Because Oh Sun-ah and Cho Ji-young have fallen,
Kim Moo-young, who was following behind also falls.
How disappointing.
Luckily, Mo Ah-reum avoids the fall.
Cha Ga-eul and Mo Ah-reum
race toward the finish line together.
Mo Ah-reum follows Cha Ga-eul closely behind.
Cha Ga-eul currently has an injured thigh.
She seems to be struggling.
But she cannot give up.
That's right.
Mo Ah-reum raises the spot to the very end.
Mo Ah-reum, by the tiniest distance, makes it to 1st place.
Cha Ga-eul is 2nd.
Cha Ga-eul, who did not give up even with her injury,
will be moving forward to the Super Finals.
This once in a lifetime…
Cha Ga-eul, you win.
I lose.
There was a time when winning was everything.
When I believed the world only loved winners
and that losers don't receive respect.
Whether I won or lost, I was miserable.
Maybe my heart, in order to avoid misfortune,
had made excuses…
Congratulations.
She's cold-blooded.
Are you okay?
You're bleeding.
I'm okay.
I'm luckiest on days I bleed.
Come here, you brat.
I'm not your student anymore.
Oh really?
Then, you shouldn't have competed in the trials.
I teach the national athletes.
If you don't want to be my athlete,
you shouldn't have skated.
Get it together!
Am I a joke to you?
Huh? How many times do I have to tell you?
Are you offended?
If you're offended, go home.
Get up, you brat.
Hey!
You bastard.
The doctor was right.
If I made up my mind,
I could walk and run
and do it all anytime.
I could even
do a side kick.
My safety pin
had come off.