Kishwaukee College alum Sarah Chung competed with Team USA in the 2016 Paralympics in Judo in Rio de Janeiro this September. Sarah is shown in Rio at the opening ceremonies.
When Sarah Chung graduated from Kishwaukee College in 2010, Judo was a sport she had heard of and experienced at an all-girls empowerment camp for girls with disabilities while in high school. In December 2013, she decided to take up Judo because she had some background in Taekwondo. Less than three years later, Sarah was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil competing in the 2016 Summer Paralympics, representing the U.S. in Judo.
Nothing has ever stopped Sarah from challenging herself. As a student at Kishwaukee College, Sarah found herself on a campus with a supportive atmosphere. Visually impaired, Sarah was an active student, joining a variety of clubs and organizations. “Kish was the the first college that made me feel welcome. I met amazing friends and faculty,” she stated. “It was a very supportive environment.” That support helped her gain confidence.
In Judo, Sarah found a way to really challenge herself – physically, mentally and emotionally. “Judo gave me faith in my body. I used to obsess about my weight, but some of the women I fight in my division have upwards of 70 pounds on me,” she shared. “I know that my body is amazing as long as I put in the effort to be healthier.”
Once she began Judo, she was determined to take it as far as possible. “Going to the Paralympics was originally just a dream, one that I thought I would never achieve. But, I put in the work and made it happen,” she said. “My coach, senseis, and training partners all played a huge role in getting me to this point. I owe my success to them.” She trains at the Menomonee Judo Club in Chicago 4 or 5 days each week.
On her way to qualifying for Rio, Sarah earned a series of titles and accomplishments that are made more amazing by her newness to the sport: she is ranked #1 in the U.S. in the Female +70kg Paralympic division. She has competed around the world including in Eger, Hungary and Seoul, Korea. For this world competitor, going to Rio as a member of Team USA has definitely been a career highlight.
“Dreams really do come true. I was 15 when I saw my first judo demonstration. Now 12 years later, I am representing my country on the biggest stage in the world,” she said. “I can’t even begin to describe my experiences at the Paralympics. My competition results were not what I hoped for, but the experience of competing at that level has only inspired me to train harder for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.”
The honors just keep coming and keep her motivated. On September 29, she joined other members of Team USA at the White House to meet and be recognized by President Obama for representing the U.S. on the world stage.
Thinking about her time in Rio, Sarah is reflective of her experiences. “There were a lot of memorable moments, but one that really stays with me is at the very end of the closing ceremony. The venue had screens at the stage. “Love” flashed in many different languages. Then suddenly, there were colorful flags all around us bearing the word “love” in all these languages. There was this electric energy in the air. It was indescribable,” she recalled. “I can honestly say that I lived a dream in my lifetime.”
The faculty and staff and her former classmates at Kish are keeping up with Sarah Chung. She will most definitely be representing Team USA at the Paralympics, in Tokyo, in 2020. Follow Sarah’s journey on her Facebook page here.
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