A family face of Korean drama emerged as a national sports hero. Joel Jin BriefAn ex -child actor known for his role in the success series KBS2 Descendants of the sunNow he is making news for a completely different reason: winning the first gold medal of Korea in the 400 -meter relay in an important global athletics event.
In Descendants of the sunNwamadi fascinated spectators in 2016 as a boy from the land of Uruk devastated by the war. In an iconic scene, he looked up on Shinee Onew and said: “I want a goat, not shoes. I want to raise one”, Capture the harsh reality of his environment with innocent honesty.
Fast forward of almost a decade and Nwamadi is now celebrated for his explosive athleticism. Son of a former Nigerian Long sweater, Nwamadi has inherited not only genetics but the passion for athletics. Having started his athletic career in elementary schools, he passed quickly through youth competitions, winning more medals.
In April of this year, he made an extraordinary debut on the adult phase, winning the first place in the 100 -meter race during the tests of the Korean national team for the Asian athletics championships. His moment of Breakout came on May 31, when the 400 Male Korean men’s relay team won their first gold medal ever in the history of the Asian championships, recording a national record of 38.49 seconds.
Success did not stop there. On July 27, al 2025 Summer Universiade in GermanyNwamadi joined the teammates SEO MIN-JUN (County of Seocheon), Lee Jae-Sung (City Gwangju) and Kim Jung-Yoon (Korea National Sports University) to conquer gold in the 400-meter relay with a time of 38.50 seconds, strictly defeating South Africa.
The achievement marks a first historian for Korea, before the nation claimed gold in a global relay event. The broadcasters covering the event praised the team “Ardent breed of young Korean talents.”
Returning to Korea on July 29, Nwamadi told Journalists to Incheon International Airport,
“Being the second runner really highlights my strengths. When we realized that we won the first place, it was incredible. My heart was overflowing.”
The Netizen reacted with enthusiasm:
- “Did I really witness Korea by winning gold on the track?”
- “It looks like a dream!”
- “K-Pop is at the top globally, and now also sports? Incredible!”
The Korean Association of Athletics has said that their strategic decision to invest in the relay of 400 meters, through training abroad and the intense competition for the points of the national team, played a key role in this turning point. However, the experts note that a time of about 38.2 seconds is needed to secure a place for the Olympics or the World Championships.
Joel Jin BriefThe journey-from a child with a child with a memorable line for a winning sprinter-much more than impressive. It is a testimony of the growth, talent and power of dreams, capturing the heart of a nation again.
Naver
