Terrifying moment viral Olympics shooter collapses in press conference before she is rushed to hospital
SOUTH KOREAN Olympic shooter Kim Ye-ji collapsed at a press conference in shock scenes.
Kim was speaking at an event in Imsil – a county in the North Jeolla Province of South Korea after winning silver in the Paris Games.
She is believed to have passed out due to stress and exhaustion and was rushed to hospital for checks.
Officials say Kim did not receive CPR and later regained consciousness.
The pistol shooter became a viral online sensation for her cool demeanour during the Olympics.
Kim also sent social media into a frenzy when footage resurfaced of her setting a world record in May.
In the clip, she wears a black cap turned backwards, sci-fi-esque shooting glasses and a pink elephant doll tied at her hip.
She then became the talk of the internet after winning silver in the 10 metre air pistol bracket with even X owner Elon Musk praising her.
Kim spoke out to thank billionaire Musk for his recognition.
She said: “I received a lot of unexpected attention and I believe it’s thanks to Elon Musk rather than myself. So, thank you.”
Despite her new-found fame online, Kim insisted there is still room for improvement in her performance.
She told the LA Times: “This Olympics feels like a turning point in my life.
“I realised that I still have so much I can improve. That is the single most meaningful takeaway for me this time.
“Until now, I thought that I was a perfect shooter with absolutely no weaknesses to work on.
“I’m not sure where the media heard that the elephant doll was a gift from my daughter, but that part isn’t true.
“It was actually a hand towel my coach gave me because our hands get greasy from loading cartridges into our pistols!”