Former child actor Joeljin Nwamadi (나마디 조엘진), 20, who starred alongside top stars like Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, and SHINee's Onew in the beloved 2016 KBS 2TV K-drama 'Descendants of the Sun', has made a surprising transformation into an Asian Games track and field bronze medalist after 10 years, becoming a hot topic. On September 28, he set a new Korean national record in the 4x100m relay, earning a bronze medal and garnering significant attention among K-culture fans.
During the broadcast of 'Descendants of the Sun', Joeljin was 10 years old and played Bratch, the "Goat Boy" from the Uruk region, leaving a deep impression on viewers. Fans still fondly recall scenes where he comforted Dr. Lee Chi-hoon (played by Onew) during emotional struggles, and the memorable episode where, due to a language barrier, he asked for a goat instead of sneakers. Born in Seoul and raised in Gimpo, Joeljin is the son of a Nigerian father and a Korean mother.
On September 28, in the Men's 4x100m relay final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Joeljin, alongside teammates Bwesa Daniel Gasama (비웨사 다니엘 가사마), Seo Min-jun (서민준), and Lee Jae-seong (이재성), secured a bronze medal with a time of 38.43 seconds. This remarkable achievement set a new Korean national record, shaving 0.06 seconds off the previous record of 38.49 seconds. The team finished third, following China (38.17 seconds) and Chinese Taipei (38.32 seconds). Notably, Bwesa Daniel Gasama, running the anchor leg, successfully fended off the pursuit of the Thai athlete, who was the 100m and 200m gold medalist, to secure the bronze. (ETtoday News)
https://sports.ettoday.net/news/3245679, https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202609290802541910&code=100100Key Asian Games Records for Joeljin Nwamadi (2026 Aichi-Nagoya)
Disappointment in Individual Events and Future Goals
Beyond his relay bronze medal, Joeljin narrowly missed out on an individual bronze on September 28, finishing 4th in the men's 100m final with a time of 10.17 seconds, just 0.06 seconds shy of a medal. His personal best in the 100m is 10.13 seconds, which is only 0.06 seconds off the Korean men's national record of 10.07 seconds, held by Kim Kuk-young (김국영). (STHeadline)
After the 100m final, he admitted there was room for improvement in his start and expressed his ambition to consistently reproduce his best condition in all races. He added that the Asian Games are just the beginning, and he will continue to challenge his personal limits in international competitions such as the Asian Championships, World University Games, and World Athletics Championships, aiming to break the Korean 100m record. Meanwhile, in the men's 200m heats held on September 26, he unfortunately had to withdraw midway due to leg muscle cramps. A spokesperson for the Korea Athletics Federation (한국 육상 연맹) explained that Joeljin had undergone doping tests until the early morning after the previous day's 100m final, and the muscle cramps likely occurred when he competed in the 200m heats early that morning. The decision to withdraw was made to prevent a potentially severe injury if he had pushed through the race. Furthermore, in the 4x100m relay, the team was initially disqualified for exceeding the baton exchange zone, but after the Korean team submitted video evidence, their appeal was accepted, allowing them to advance to the final after some twists and turns.
https://www.stheadline.com/exercise/3620120/%E4%BA%9E%E9%81%8B2026%E5%A4%AA%E9%99%BD%E7%9A%84%E5%BE%8C%E8%A3%94%E7%AB%A5%E6%98%9F%E8%AE%8A%E7%94%B0%E5%BE%91%E5%8B%87%E6%89%8B100%E7%B1%B3%E6%B1%BA%E8%B3%87%E8%B7%91%E7%AC%AC4%E5%83%85%E8%BC%B8006%E7%A7%92-%E5%B0%88%E6%B3%A8%E6%8E%A5%E5%8A%9B%E8%A1%9D%E7%8D%8E%E7%89%8C, https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%A4%AA%E9%99%BD%E7%9A%84%E5%BE%8C%E8%A3%94-%E7%AB%A5%E6%98%9F%E9%95%B7%E5%A4%A7%E4%BA%86-20%E6%AD%B2%E8%B7%91%E9%B9%B7%E9%80%B2%E4%BA%9E%E9%81%8B%E7%99%BE%E7%B1%B3%E6%B1%BA%E8%B3%87-%E6%8C%91%E6%88%91%E5%88%B7%E6%96%B0%E9%9F%93%E5%9C%8B%E7%B4%80%E9%8C%84-073000790.htmlA Rising Star in Korean Athletics Overcoming Adversity
Born to a Nigerian father and a Korean mother and raised in Korea, Joeljin began his track and field career in the 5th grade after winning a city-level competition and being scouted by a coach. His father, a former long jumper, also significantly influenced Joeljin's entry into athletics. However, his journey in track and field was not always smooth. According to an interview with Olympics.com, he suffered from severe heel growth pain during middle school, barely competing for several years, and at one point, even blamed himself. Yet, as he transitioned from middle school to high school, he experienced a rapid growth spurt of about 10cm, and the growth pain gradually subsided. This period of hardship ultimately strengthened his mental fortitude. Joeljin shared that every time he stands at the starting line, he repeats, "I can do it. I can achieve it because I am the best." He deeply admires Noah Lyles, the Paris Olympics Men's 100m gold medalist, and aspires to emulate his confidence and mental strength on major stages. Meanwhile, his relay teammate and fellow bronze medalist, Bwesa Daniel Gasama (비웨사 다니엘 가사마), was also born and raised in Korea to Congolese parents. He acquired Korean citizenship in his third year of middle school and has since grown into a top-tier Korean sprinter.
Racing Towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Having achieved brilliant results at the Asian Games at the young age of 20, Joeljin is now setting his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Despite securing a new Korean record and a bronze medal, Bwesa Daniel Gasama expressed his regret for not winning gold, stating, "I didn't think we wouldn't win a medal because the team members were skilled. It's just the color of the medal that's disappointing." He positively accepted the Asian Games' outcome, laughing as he added, "If you achieve too many goals at once, won't there be nothing left to break through later?" Joeljin shared that his dream began at age six, watching "Jamaican Lightning" Usain Bolt run at the 2012 London Olympics. He stated, "The Olympics is the biggest competition in my life. I have to keep challenging myself to stand on that stage." From the "Goat Boy" of 'Descendants of the Sun' to a "young powerhouse" of Korean athletics, Joeljin and Bwesa Daniel Gasama's powerful sprint towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is drawing significant attention from K-culture fans and the athletics world alike.
